Welcome to the Church Times Festival of Faith & Literature

Our mission is to encourage a love of literature as it relates to faith, and to create a thoughtful and relaxing space in which to consider works of literature and their religious and moral themes. It's for anyone who is interested in the big questions of life.

2025 Festival

A truth universally acknowledged

Friday 28 February - Sunday 2 March 2025

Thank Yous

Thank you to the wonderful organising teams, sponsors, supporters, caterers, volunteers and our fantastic speakers – and of course to you, for buying tickets, attending, and supporting the event – and helping us make Winchester the new home for the Church Times Festival of Faith & Literature. We hope to return in 2027.

A particular thank you to our founder and president, Sir Tony Baldry, whose bright idea this festival was

Announcement Message

We’re delighted to announce the programme for our next Festival of Faith and Literature in Winchester in February/March 2025. We’re returning to the city of Winchester, but for 2025, our entire programme takes place in the Cathedral precincts. It’s hard to think of a more inspiring location for a literary festival, especially during the year that we’re marking the 250th birthday of Jane Austen. We’re so grateful to the Dean and Chapter for their warm welcome.

Do join us in Winchester to celebrate the very best new fiction and non-fiction with a faith perspective.

Come for one event, one day, or the whole weekend.

Hear from inspiring speakers, including Diarmaid McCulloch, Stephen Cottrell, Rachel Mann, Edward Stourton, Malcolm Guite, Chine McDonald, Cathy Rentzenbrink and Francis Spufford. You can also enjoy music from the UK’s flagship female voice ensemble Papagena in concert, or take some time to explore Winchester Cathedral on a literary tour or join a mini-pilgrimage around the city.

Sarah Meyrick, Festival Director