Eric Abbott was Dean of Westminster between 1959 and 1974. Previously he was Dean at King's College, London (1945-55), Chaplain to King George VI and HM Queen Elizabeth II, and the warden of Keble College, Oxford . The lecture is repeated each year at Keble College. He died in 1983 and was buried in the Abbey’s Nave. A memorial trust was endowed by his friends to provide for an annual lecture on spirituality and the first lecture was held in 1986.
Booklets of the Eric Symes Abbott Memorial lectures can be obtained from the Dean's Office at King's College London .
Forthcoming Eric Symes Lectures & seminars
Past Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lectures
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10 May 2012 27th Eric Symes Abbott memorial lecture: Mis-establishment
Locating, and Re-locating, the Church of England.
Speaker: The Right Reverend Dr Peter Selby -
26 May 2011 The Twenty-sixth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: The Word in Print
The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Dr Richard Chartres KCVO, Bishop of London
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6 May 2010 The Twenty-fifth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: The End of the Permissive Society? Towards a Christian understanding of the common good.
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14 May 2009 The Twenty-fourth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Religious and Scientific Faith: the case of Charles Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’
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8 May 2008 The Twenty-third Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: The Mystical Turn - Religious Experience in the Modern World
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10 May 2007 The Twenty-second Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Being Biblical? Slavery, Sexuality, and the Inclusive Community
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11 May 2006 The Twenty-first Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: A New Song in a Strange Land: The contribution of women to the priestly ministry of the Church
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12 May 2005 The Twentieth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: A Room with a View - the Aspiration of a Parish Church
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27 May 2004 The Nineteenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: The Crisis of Truth Telling in Our Society
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8 May 2003 The Eighteenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Beyond Racism and Sectarianism: Is Religion the Problem or the Solution?
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2 May 2002 The Seventeenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Spiritual Society, Secular Church?
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10 May 2001 The Sixteenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Deep Time: Does It Matter?
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4 May 2000 The Fifteenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: A Knowledge of Angels: How Spiritual Are the English?
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6 May 1999 The Forteenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Who is to judge? The role of the judiciary in ethicalissues.
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7 May 1998 The Thirteenth Eric Symes Abbott memorial lecture: Spirituality, Shakespeare and Royalty
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15 May 1997 The Twelfth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Waiting for God
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9 May 1996 The Eleventh Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: When Shall We Live?
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4 May 1995 The Tenth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Deconstructing the Church’s Ministry
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9 May 1994 The Ninth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: Christian Counsel and the Meaning of Wholeness
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24 May 1993 The Eighth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: He Made the Stars Also
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7 May 1992 The Seventh Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: John of the Cross and the Gospel according to Mark
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26 June 1991 The Sixth Eric Symes Abbot Memorial Lecture: The Spiritual in Art
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31 May 1990 The Fifth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: For Their Sakes I Consecrate Myself
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15 May 1989 The Fourth Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Lecture: On Being Creatures
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1 June 1988 The Third Eric Symes Abbott memorial lecture: Spirituality and Music
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21 May 1987 The Second Eric Symes Abbott memorial lecture: Spirituality in a Violent Society
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4 June 1986 The First Eric Symes Abbott memorial lecture
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12 June 1985 Sermon at Memorial Eucharist For Eric Symes Abbott at Lincoln Theological College