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Richard Holloway resigned controversially as Bishop of Edinburgh in 2000 due to his growing disillusionment with religion. The former head of the Scottish Episcopal Church will talk about his turbulent relationship with religion at The University of Western Australia soon.

When he was 14, Richard Holloway left his working-class home north of Glasgow and travelled hundreds of kilometres to an English monastery to train for the priesthood. By the time he was 25, he had been ordained and was working in the slums of Glasgow.

But in 2000, he quit his senior ecclesiastic position having lost heart with the Church over its condemnation of homosexuality.

In his years as a priest Richard Holloway touched many lives, but behind his confident public face lay a mind troubled by questions.  Why is the Church, which claims to be the instrument of God's love, so prone to cruelty and condemnation?  And how can a person live with the tension between public faith and private doubt?

Richard Holloway's memoir, Leaving Alexandria , is a wise, poetic and honest book that recounts a fascinating life.

Richard Holloway is former Gresham Professor of Divinity and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has written more than 20 books, been a contributor for The Times, Guardian, Observer, Herald and The Scotsman newspapers and has presented for BBC television and radio. He is patron of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Youth Scotland.

Richard Holloway lives in Edinburgh with his American-born wife, Jean. They have three adult children.

His visit to UWA was organised by UWA Extension.

WHAT: Public lecture "My turbulent lifelong romance with religion" by Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh, acclaimed writer and respected thinker.

WHERE: University Club Auditorium

WHEN: Monday 3 September from 6.30-7.30pm

BOOKINGS: Book tickets ($29) or call 6488 2433.

Media references

Susan Marie (Director, UWA Extension)  (+61 8)  6488 2433
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783