June 30th is the anniversary of the famous 1860 debate in Oxford about Darwin's theories between Thomas Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce which was to have a huge influence on the developing relationship between science and religion in the 19th century.

Dr Redfern will examine the nature of that debate before the Dean of Derby, Dr Jeff Cuttell, then considers the nature of the vigorous contemporary debate in science and religion.

The 1860 Oxford evolution debate took place at the Oxford University Museum on 30 June 1860, seven months after the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.

Several prominent British scientists and philosophers participated, including Thomas Henry Huxley, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, Benjamin Brodie, Joseph Dalton Hooker and Robert FitzRoy.

The debate is best remembered today for a heated exchange in which Wilberforce supposedly asked Huxley whether it was through his grandfather or his grandmother that he claimed his descent from a monkey.  Huxley is said to have replied that he would not be ashamed to have a monkey for his ancestor, but he would be ashamed to be connected with a man who used his great gifts to obscure the truth.

2009 is the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Darwin and there has been a significant amount of reflection and analysis on his impact on theology over the course of the year so far.

"It should be an interesting evening and I hope that everyone will feel welcome to join us. We will be asking members of the audience to join in the debate and to ask questions, "said Dr Redfern today.