Briefing Meetings take place four times a year.
We usually have one or two
invited speakers to introduce a specific topic of current concern,
followed
by questions, discussion and contributions from members.
Meetings start at 2·0pm and finish by 4·15pm.
This is an open invitation.
Venue for ordinary meetings:
The Library, Archbishop's House, 150 St George's Road, London SE1
| Thursday 18 April | This year is the 40th anniversary of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities. To mark the occasion we have decided to do something a little different from usual at our April meeting, which will
take place in the Clore Creative Studio at the Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London WC1N
1AZ. The Foundling Museum is on the site of the Foundling Hospital, of which a governor and benefactor
was the composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Our speaker will be Revd Professor David Martin,
who will give us a presentation, illustrated with musical examples, on the subject
'Handel - the first universal composer? Europe recovers its own'We plan to start the meeting at 2·30pm, and with questions and discussion it will probably finish by about 4·00pm. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits and an opportunity (either after the meeting or before if you would like to arrive earlier) to look at the exhibits in the Museum, which span four centuries and include paintings, sculpture, prints, manuscripts, furniture, clocks, photographs and ephemera. The artists on display include Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds and Millais; in the Handel collection there are items relating to the composer, including music and libretti. The Museum is open from 10pm to 5pm (and admission to the Museum will be free for those who have booked to attend the Handel meeting).There is a hiring charge for the Clore Centre, but rather than ask attenders for a set fee we would encourage those who are able to do so to make a donation towards the costs. After the Museum closes at 5pm, we would like to offer our members an opportunity for some more informal social time, and we hope to arrange for a meal together at a cafe or restaurant within walking distance of the Museum. This was to have been at the cafe at the Lumen URC church in Tavistock Place, but yesterday they let me know that they can no longer accommodate us. I shall try to find a suitable alternative. Please contact Philip Walters by April 1st if you wish to attend, whether you would be willing to contribute £12 towards the cost of the room and refreshments, and whether you would wish to stay on for a meal together. |
| Thursday 11 July | The AGM of Faith in Europe. After the business part of the AGM, in the Briefing Meeting we shall be looking at current perspectives on Russia. Our speakers will be Neville Kyrke-Smith, the National Director of Aid to the Church in Need UK, and Xenia Dennen, the Chairman of Keston Institute, both of whom have recently been travelling in various parts of the Russian Federation. |
| Thursday 17 October | Topic still being finalised. |