The Dean of Westminster is to deliver the University of Cumbria Chaplaincy annual lecture.

Each year the lecture is given by a prominent Christian from the worlds of Church, politics or culture. This year’s will be given by The Very Rev Dr John Hall, the Dean of Westminster.

University Chaplain Rev Matthew Firth said: “It’s wonderful to have such a notable Christian speaker agree to travel to Carlisle for our lecture.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what the Dean has to say on the importance that needs to be placed on ensuring the Gospel message is rooted at the centre of all that we do.”

In this year’s lecture the Dean will explore ‘The Christian Faith at the Heart of the Nation’. The University of Cumbria Chaplaincy Annual Lecture is an opportunity for the university, local church and local community to engage with ideas about the place of the Christian faith in today’s society.

Last Christmas, Dr Hall supported a Christmas rap re-mix of the traditional carol O come, O come Emmanuel, produced by the chaplaincy intern Andy Dykes. It received thousands of hits after being posted on social media sites and the Dean was one of those who re-tweeted links to the music video.

The Rev Firth added: “It’s great to have established strong links with the Dean who was so supportive of our Christmas project. It will be wonderful to welcome him here to the campus and extend our hospitality to him and offer him thanks for his help in recent months.”

The lecture will be delivered on the evening of Thursday, March 6 in the Learning Gateway Lecture Theatre at the Carlisle Fusehill Street Campus of the University of Cumbria. To book a place at the lecture, e-mail University Chaplain, the Rev Matthew Firth: matthew.firth@cumbria.ac.uk .