Poetry Weekend

With Dr Elizabeth Cook

We shall be looking at the work of English-language poets of the 20th and 21st centuries who write from within or in relation to a Christian faith. We will think about how, if at all, faith informs the work of a poet, especially when the work is not overtly about that faith. Poets whose work we’ll be discussing are likely to include W H Auden (1907-1973), Norman Nicholson (1914-1987), Denise Levertov (1923-1997), Elizabeth Jennings (1926-2001), U A Fanthorpe (1929-2009), Geoffrey Hill (1932-2016), Mary Oliver (1935-2019), Les Murray (1938-2019), David Scott (1947-2022), Gillian Allnutt (1949-), Philip Gross (1952-), John Burnside (1955-2024), Michael Symmons Roberts (1963-), and Rachel Mann (1970-).

In contrast to previous poetry weekends we will not be making an in-depth study of any single poet but thinking together about the connections between faith and poetry. Do they share a common impulse? Is all poetry implicitly religious? I shall bring copies of several poems to discuss but invite you, if you are able, to bring a poem that speaks to you to add to the mix.

The suggested donation for the weekend is £160 to include all food and accommodation. 

Please contact Suzi to check availability and avoid disappointment before registering for the weekend.

Click here to download the individual leaflet and booking form