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On Saturday 21 June, the Chapel of St Thomas More in Harleston, will host an illuminating talk by renowned historian Professor Eamon Duffy, titled “Thomas More: A Saint for All Reasons?”
The talk, timed to coincide with the feast of St Thomas More (22 June), promises a thought-provoking re-examination of the legacy of this complex Tudor figure. Professor Duffy, a respected authority on the Reformation and the Tudor Church, will delve into the sharply contrasting portrayals of More found in modern fiction — notably Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons and Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall.
Bolt’s More is celebrated as a principled liberal hero, a defender of conscience, and a martyr for personal freedom. Mantel’s depiction, by contrast, presents him as a zealous persecutor of heretics and a symbol of religious intolerance. Professor Duffy will argue that both characterisations miss the mark, contending instead that More was a figure of deep conviction and complexity — not merely a product of his time, but a man of the Gospel whose ultimate fidelity was to his faith.
This event offers a rare opportunity to hear one of Britain’s foremost Church historians speak on a saint who continues to inspire debate and devotion nearly five centuries after his death.
The event begins at 7.15pm, following Mass, with doors opening at 6.55pm. Tickets are priced at £10 and include a glass of wine and canapés (a small booking charge of 65p applies).
To book, visit:
https://waveneyvalleycatholics.church/eamon-duffy-to-talk-on-thomas-more-at-jays-green/
or scan the QR code on the poster.
Main image: https://clevelandart.org/art/1957.356
