Sunday 17th May 2026
at 2pm in the State Chamber
Christianity is the best-kept secret of English legal history. Law schools do not mention that it might have played a part in the making of the English law. Modern judges even vehemently deny the old maxim that Christianity was a part of the common law. This lecture aims to illumine how English law was not the creation of mere reason or circumstance, but how it drew from Christianity to create many of the ideas and rights from which we still benefit today.
Speaker: Bijan Omrani
Bijan is a writer, classicist and cultural historian. His most recent book is God is an ‘Englishman: Christianity and the Creation of England.’ Omrani trained as a barrister, but also taught Classics at Eton College and Westminster School. He holds a doctorate in Classics and Ancient History, and is the author of a number of books looking at questions of religious history and cultural identity from Ancient Rome and Greece to Afghanistan and the Silk Road.
Tickets cost £7 (plus booking fee) BOOK HERE
Shine a Light on…: we are shining a light on aspects of the Minster’s life, history & heritage.
Whether you’re a heritage enthusiast or simply curious, join us for fascinating insights from academics, experts, and our own passionate guides. Tickets may be bought in advance through the Minster website, or the Cathedral shop, or on the door. This series of talks complements Luke Jerram’s magnificent ‘Helios’ (sun) installation which will be in the Minster in July / August 2026.