Rowan Williams and Fiona Sampson discuss the relationship between poetry and prayer , chaired by Colin Thubron.

Language under stress: poetry and faith

Born in Wales and educated at both Cambridge and Oxford, Rowan Williams has been Archbishop of Canterbury since 2002 – the first Welshman to hold the post. He is internationally acknowledged as an outstanding teacher and scholar, and has written extensively on theological, philosophical, literary, ethical and social issues. He is also a poet and a translator of poetry. With award-winning poet Fiona Sampson, the Archbishop discusses poetic and religious language, both of which operate outside the usual conventions of description or analysis. Together, they consider the different kind of ‘pressure’ at work in these two modes.

We are grateful to ALCS for sponsoring this event.

Recorded on 20 June 2012.