A public lecture by former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will take place at Swansea University on October 9, 2025. The event is scheduled for the Richard Price Lecture Theatre on the Singleton Campus and will begin at 5pm. Attendance is free and open to all.
The lecture is held in memory of Dr Illtyd David (1894–1982), recognized for his contributions to adult education and early advocacy for human rights in south-west Wales. Dr David’s experiences during a tour of the United States in 1925, where he engaged with civil rights activists including NAACP leader William Du Bois and attended an NAACP Convention in Denver, influenced his later work and led to decades of human rights lectures at Swansea University.
Professor Edward David will introduce the evening by discussing the significance of Illtyd David’s US tour and its impact on debates about justice, equality, and international cooperation. A drinks reception will precede the main lecture.
Dr Williams’ talk, titled ‘Human Rights and Human Solidarity’, will explore how current discussions about rights may overlook the underlying moral and social connections within communities. He plans to address whether focusing on rights can distract from deeper responsibilities that support a just society. A question-and-answer session with Dr Williams will follow his address.
To mark this centenary, Swansea University will also present an online exhibition titled ‘From Singleton to USA 1925- Making of a Human Rights legacy’. Additional public events related to contemporary human rights issues are planned throughout the academic year as part of Swansea University’s ongoing focus on social justice, education, and public engagement.