Westminster Abbey Institute has announced the line-up for its Autumn Series, a programme of thought-provoking events designed to bring together thought leaders and the wider community to reflect and inspire ethical leadership.
Taking place in the historic setting of Westminster Abbey, this year’s Autumn Series features three special events exploring the theme of Remembering war, Rethinking the tasks of peace.
Marking 80 years since VE Day, and set against the backdrop of ongoing global conflict, the series offers a powerful forum for public servants and anyone interested in these issues to reflect on war, peace, and the responsibilities of leading and serving in public life.
Tuesday 16 September, 6.30pm – 7.45pm: Panel discussion – The search for an ethical peace
Join former Archbishop of Canterbury, theologian and poet, Rowan Williams, former head of the British Armed Forces, Nick Carter, and British politician and diplomat, Catherine Ashton, best known for serving as the European Union’s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for a panel discussion on the ethics of peacebuilding in times of conflict. From diplomatic negotiation to military strategy, the panel will examine how idealism and compromise intersect in public life. Chaired by renowned international affairs journalist and broadcaster Rageh Omaar, this conversation offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the human, political, and spiritual costs of peace.
Wednesday 26 November, 6.30pm – 7.45pm: A call to words: An evening exploring poetry in wartime
An evocative evening exploring the enduring value of war poetry, featuring film and theatre director Josie Rourke. From the poets of the Second World War to the words being written today, this live performance and conversation reveals how poetry can resource, renew, and give voice to those who face conflict and its legacies. Live actors and speakers will bring to life the power of language to capture the experience of war and shape remembrance.
Monday 17 November, 6.30pm – 7.45pm: One People Oration 2025 – The courage to welcome: solidarity in a divided world
A flagship event for Westminster Abbey Institute, this year’s One People Oration presents a rare opportunity to hear directly from Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, at a defining moment in his public service career. In one of his final public addresses before leaving office, Grandi will reflect on a decade of global displacement, leadership, and moral responsibility. It will be both a farewell from a major international figure and a call to the next generation of public servants.
Dr Edge Watchorn, Director, Westminster Abbey Institute, said: “These events offer spaces for leaders and emerging professionals alike to take a step back from the day-to-day pressures of their roles to engage in reflection and conversation on their work in public life. In an age marred by conflict and deep divisions globally, this year’s Autumn Series invites audiences to consider what it means to lead ethically and to serve with hope.”
Westminster Abbey Institute was founded in 2013 to nurture and revitalise moral and spiritual values in public life and service. It seeks to replenish and sustain public servants of all faiths and none and to celebrate public service as a force for good. The Institute draws on the Abbey’s resources of spirituality and theological learning, to convene discussion, nourish reflection and inspire regeneration.
The Institute’s Autumn Series is part of a wider programme of thought-provoking events running throughout the year. It aims to foster meaningful discussions on public life’s biggest questions, with inspiring speakers exploring ethics, moral leadership and societal values, set within the Abbey’s unique and historic setting.
All Westminster Abbey Institute Autumn Series events are free of charge. To book tickets and for more information about each event, visit https://www.westminster-abbey.org/institute/public-programmes.
