A series of lectures given by three eminent women of faith. They will explore what good government might look like from the perspective of their faith. The Lectures: Thursday 1st October Judaism Rabbi Baroness Neuberger DBE, Senior Rabbi West London Synagogue Thursday 8th October Christianity The Very Revd June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury Thursday 6th November Islam Ms Sughra Ahmed, Programmes Manager, Woolf Institute.

Magna Carta Putney Debates flyer

Maya Vision International are currently in the process of making a social history series with Michael Wood for BBC2. It is an eight part series starting from approximately 400AD until the present day, including the events surrounding the Putney Debates.  Interweaving the national story with the local, we’re looking to set the lives of the ordinary people in the context of great events, showing them struggling with invasion, plague, famine and war - and often with their rulers - to make their own history and shape their own identity. You might have come across the last series they made ‘Story of England’ based in a village in Leicestershire, where we engaged with the local community to tell the story of that particular village through community-based research and archaeology. This is based upon a similar idea, but nationwide.

To Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights

"This House believes that freedom is worth killing for"    Moderated by Rev Canon Dr Giles Fraser

Putney High School (proposition) debated the issue with King's College School (opposition)

On a vote of all attendees Putney High won the debate.  Interestingly, King's won the 2nd 'general public' vote  

By Maria Oshodi, Extant.  Performed Professional Actors

Based on original Debate transcripts, this new theatre production, written by Maria Oshodi, Extant, and performed by professional actors,  illuminates the twists and turns of the Debates about church, state and monarchy.  Hear the historical voices, including Cromwell himself, debate our constitutional future within the very walls where the original debates took place 360 years ago

  WYT, performed in the open air:

A site specific performance by young people exploring Putney characters and stories of those connected with the   Debates raging on inside the church. Discover what life and politics felt like for Putney folk and their relationships with New Model Army soldiers discussing the future of British democracy.

Living History

Weekend

Civil War re-enactment company Tower Hamlets Trayned Bandes Regiment

 Pewter Making by Worshipful Company of Pewterers, 

Levellers Beer Tent, Hog Roast, 17^C foods

Celebration Church Service

Bell Ringing - 17^th century Peals

River Party rowed by the Putney Oarsmen conveying VIP's from Westminster to Putney

 The Putney Oarsmen in full 17^th regalia, recreate a typical journey from Westminster to Putney as it would have been made 360 years ago.

Concert of fine music from the period and recitations from poets Marvell and Milton.

The American Premise’. 

The impact of the Putney Debates reaches far beyond these shores. Syracuse University London will present a discussion—featuring academics from Oxford , Syracuse University , University College London, University of Sheffield and University of Warwick —on the how the Putney Debates laid the groundwork for the contemporary ideals of democracy (Rule of Law, one man-one vote). It will also explore how those ideals continue to be tested in both US and UK governments. 

Illustrated talk by Dorian Gerhold of  Wandsworth Historic Society

Verso debate on the state of democracy in contemporary Britain,  chaired by

Shami Chakrabarti director of Liberty and 

Geoffrey Robertson QC human rights lawyer ,

in collaboration with St Mary’s Church, Putney with 

musician and author Billy Bragg, historian and broadcaster Tristram Hunt and author Dan Hind.

 They discussed whether the demands of the Levellers set out at the Putney Debates of 1647  have been realised and how Britain’s democracy can be revitalised.