Science and Faith – Back for the Summer 2021

Radio Maria England recently received some very exciting news regarding our Science and Faith series.  

Radio Maria England has been awarded a grant to explore the relationship between science and faith through the church engagement programme Scientists in Congregations, which is run by Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS).  Radio Maria England is among one of 22 churches and organisations in England and Wales to receive grants totalling £400,000, to be used over the next 18 months on a creative, public-facing project.

“We are so excited to be taking Science and Faith on tour to parishes and universities!  We are looking forward to introducing some truly inspiriting science and theology experts to the parishes,” said Marta, co-host of Science and Faith.

Scientists in Congregations is a programme run by the research project Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS). The ECLAS project is led from St John’s College, Durham University in partnership with the University of York and the Church of England. Its directors include the Revd Prof David Wilkinson and physicist Prof Tom McLeish. ECLAS and the Scientists in Congregations grants are funded by the Templeton Religion Trust. ECLAS has distributed £665,000 to over 70 churches through its Scientists in Congregations programme since 2014.

The Revd Prof David Wilkinson, Project Director of ECLAS and Principal of St John’s College, said: “We are delighted to be working with churches on such promising projects, and look forward to seeing how congregations and the communities they serve engage with science and faith in fresh and exciting ways. We are proud to offer additional funding for follow-on projects for the first time this year, which will help churches reach even more people with the message that science is a gift from God.”

Father Sam Randall, priest director of Radio Maria England, praised the hard work that Marta, Szmon, Fr. Robert, Kathleen, Charles and Alfie have put into season 1 and the hard work in preparing season 2 to be broadcast in September 2021.

The full list of churches and organisations receiving funding to participate in Scientists in Congregations 2021-22 is:
• Chaplaincy Plus, Birmingham
• Chester Cathedral
• Cornerstone Methodist Church, Wadebridge
• Exeter Cathedral
• Great Yarmouth Minster
• Holy Trinity and Christchurch, Stalybridge
• Hull Minster
• Lichfield Cathedral
• Liverpool Cathedral
• New Hope Baptist Church, Coseley
• Radio Maria England
• Redeemed Christian Church of God, Sevenoaks
• Riding Lights Theatre Company
• St Andrew’s Church, Great Yeldham
• St George’s Church, Leeds
• St German’s Cathedral
• St Lawrence Church, Gloucester
• St Mark’s Church/Xplore!, Wrexham
• St Mary and St Eanswythe, Folkestone
• St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
• The Bible Reading Fellowship
• Wembley Family Church

Radio Maria England will be rebroadcasting the first season of Science and Faith on Saturdays at 13:30 and Thursdays at 16:00 through the summer.  The show is also available as a podcast!  Click here to see all the details.