PFA at the Mary Ward Centre

The relationship between PFA and the Mary Ward Centre (right) goes back to the beginning, when two of PFA's founder members, Anja Steinbauer and Andrew Dodsworth, met there while attending Pamela Jencks's monthly Saturday seminars. Now we co-organise debates and public lectures with the Mary Ward Centre.

Neither of these have the format normally understood by the words. Both occupy a three hour time slot, with a break in the middle. In the debates, a topic is introduced by a speaker (or speakers) who will normally speak for less than twenty minutes before opening the topic to the floor and moderating the ensuing discussion.

In the public lectures the speaker will typically speak for 45 minutes to an hour - once again the remaining time is available for questions and discussion, far more than is generally the case.

Speakers at PFA/Mary Ward public lectures have included A C Grayling, Janet Radcliffe Richards, Simon Blackburn, Mary Midgley, Mary Warnock, Ted Honderich, Colin Wilson and Ray Tallis.

PFA Debates and public lectures at the Mary Ward Centre are held from 2 to 5 pm, usually on Saturdays, but occasionally on Sundays. Details of the speaker and topic are posted on the website as soon as they have been arranged.