In 2017, Holy Trinity Church launched a new range of learning opportunities for adults (church members and others) to help equip them for more effective Christian discipleship at work, in their personal relationships and in the community. A survey before Easter 2017 indicated the areas of interest and concern that people most wished to explore and their preferred timing and frequency of events. The Planning Group take all these factors into account, alongside continuous feedback from events, in arranging an annual programme.
Our Next Event
Earth: Faith and Action
With the Revd Dr Adrian Howkins, Reader in Environmental History, and Paul Wilson, an Honorary Research Fellow, both at the University of Bristol
Monday 22nd September 2025 at 7.30pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
Adrian and Paul will help us to make connections between our faith and the proper stewardship of planet Earth, and share stories and experience of new sustainable technologies from around the world.
The Learning Community invites you into the conversation, so please book your place now and bring your own experience, ideas and questions.
Admission is free, with a retiring collection. We look forward to seeing you there.
Previous Events
God and the Problem of Evil
With Richard Smith, Head of Philosophy, Religious Studies and Ethics at Bristol Grammar School
Tuesday 17th June 2025 at 7.30pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
For people who believe in God as a compassionate, righteous and faithful creator, evil has always been a problem. We grapple with the question of whether evil is some power in the universe hostile to the purposes of God, whether its source is outside or inside us, or whether it is the simply the absence of good.
You can listen to a full audio recording of the talk below.
On Dying Well
With Dr Emma Thorman, Care of the Elderly Specialty Doctor and Neuropalliative Fellow, North Bristol NHS Trust; Tony Hall, Chair of the Bristol Dementia Association and the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance; the Revd Rod Cosh, former Chaplain of the Royal Marsden Hospital and St Monica’s Trust; and Nicky Studzinski, End of Life Educator, St Peter’s Hospice
Wednesday 26th February 2025 at 7.30pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
Our panel discusses the medical, ethical, social, spiritual, pastoral and personal questions that arise when we consider the end of life.
You can listen to a full audio recording of the talk below.
How Should We Read the Horrible Bits in the Bible?
With the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Tutor in Biblical Studies, Director of Theological Education and Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence at Bristol Baptist College
Wednesday 29th January 2025 at 7.30pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
We explore what we are to make of stories of a vengeful and destructive God, and of Jesus’ more violent, dismissive parables and sayings.
You can listen to a full audio recording of the talk below.
Forgivable?
With the Revd Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean of Kings College, Cambridge
Wednesday 4th December 2024 at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church
We explore aspects of forgiveness, the subject of Dr Cherry’s two recent books. What is forgiveness? How does it work? Are there things that cannot be forgiven? Are there things that shouldn’t be forgiven? Is there an obligation on Christians to forgive?
Dr Cherry’s approach to forgiveness is radical, liberating, personally moving, biblical and mind-changing.
You can listen to a full audio recording of the talk below.
Where Is God When Difficult Things Happen?
With the Revd Dr David Firth, Tutor in Old Testament Studies at Trinity College Bristol
Monday 30th September 2024 at 7.30pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
We consider this most ancient – yet also highly contemporary – question with help from Psalms, Ecclesiastes and the Book of Job.
I’m Not a Robot?
With Dr Mowbray, a lecturer at the University of Bristol on the ethics of artificial intelligence
Monday 9th October 2023 at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church
We explore the opportunities and challenges of AI, machine learning and robots, discussing ethical issues related to AI and the questions that people of faith (and others) should be asking.
What Is Truth?
Saturday 26 November 2022 at 10.15am at Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church
Why Church?
With The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol
Monday 18th July 2022 at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church
The Eucharist Today
With Canon Bruce Saunders
Sunday 23rd January 2022 at 1pm at Holy Trinity Church
Save Our Planet
With the Revd Dr Martin Gainsborough, former Diocesan Environmental Adviser, and speakers from Green Christian and Extinction Rebellion
Saturday 8th February 2020 at 1pm at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church
In Tune with Heaven
With David Ogden, composer and church musician, and Canon Bruce Saunders
Monday 25th November 2019 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
The Story of the Eucharist
With The Revd Dr Paul Roberts, Tutor in Worship and Church History at Trinity College Bristol
Wednesday 6th November 2019 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
The Beauty of Holiness
With Canon Anna Macham and Canon Robert Titley from Salisbury Cathedral
Wednesday 2nd October 2019 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
How to Read the Bible Really Badly!
With the Revd Dr Helen Paynter, Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence and Coordinator of Community Learning at Bristol Baptist College
Tuesday 7th May 2019 at 7.30pm at Westbury Baptist Church
Living Well
With the Revd Dr James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College, and Dr Andrew Clark, a leading Bristol psychotherapist
Saturday 2nd March 2019 at 10.15am at Westbury Methodist Church
Inclusive Church?
With the Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark
Wednesday 28th November 2018 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
A Reason to Believe
With The Very Revd Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Bristol
Wednesday 17th October 2018 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
The Psalms: Singing a New Song
With Dr David Firth, tutor in Old Testament Studies at Trinity College Bristol
Wednesday 26th September 2018 at 7.45pm at Holy Trinity Church
