Sikh broadcaster to give Cathedral lecture

Well-known Sikh broadcaster and journalist, Dr. Inderjit Singh, will address an audience of several hundred at Ripon Cathedral this week, when he delivers the St. Wilfrid Lecture on Thursday November 19th at 7pm. Dr. Singh is a frequent contributor to ‘Thought for the Day’ on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, and he will speak on “The Role of the Church in Contemporary Society – a Sikh Perspective”.

The Lecture is the sixth in a series established in 2009 to mark the 13 hundredth anniversary of the death of the ‘patron saint’ of Ripon, St Wilfrid, who established the Cathedral church in the 7th century. The overall theme of the St Wilfrid Lectures has been ‘Rethinking Mission: The role of the church in contemporary society.” Other speakers this year have included the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and Dr David Wilkinson of Durham University.

Dr Inderjit Singh is the first person from another faith to address the Cathedral audience. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd Keith Jukes says that, because of that, his lecture is being eagerly anticipated. “All of us at Ripon Cathedral look forward to the final lecture in this year’s series. Inderjit Singh comes to share a subject that is vital for our partnership as people of faith. The dialogue between those of different religions is at the centre of an understanding of both the complexity of the world and our request for cohesion on a local, national and international basis. It is in this regard that I warmly welcome Dr Inderjit Singh and rejoice that he comes to speak on his own experience in a Christian Cathedral.”

The Editor of the Sikh Messenger, Dr Inderjit Singh (born 1932 in Rawalpindi, British India) is a prominent British Asian, active in Sikh and interfaith activities. As well as regular ‘Thought for the Day’ contributions he speaks on BBC Radio 2's "Pause for Thought". He is also a contributor to British and overseas newspapers and journals including The Times, The Guardian and The Independent.

Dr Singh came to England in 1933. He studied engineering at Birmingham University. Between 1955 and 1975 he worked in mining and civil engineering for the National Coal Board, for Costain as a mine manager in India, and in local government in London. Since 1993 he has worked for the Sikh community and is probably its best-known representative in Britain. He has been an adviser to, or member of, official bodies, including the Commission for Racial Equality and the Home Secretary’s Advisory Council on Race Relations. He is Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations (UK) and regularly represents the Sikh community at civic occasions such as the Commonwealth Service and the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph.

In 2004 Dr Singh came second to Bob Geldof in the BBC Radio 4 "People's Lord" poll. An Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) since June 1996, Dr. Singh was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours. He has been consulted by Prince Charles, Anglican bishops and the Metropolitan police. He is prominent in the national and international interfaith movement, a Patron of the World Congress of Faiths and an Executive Committee member of the Inter Faith Network UK.

Admission to the St Wilfrid's lecture on November 19th at 7pm is free to the public, but by ticket only, from the Ripon Cathedral office (01765) 603462

ENDS

For further information please contact the Cathedral Office, 01765 603462

Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend - please contact John Carter (number below)

Issued by John Carter (Rev)
Press and Communications Officer, Diocese of Ripon and Leeds

jhgcarter@aol.com
01423 530369 or mobile 07798 652707