Education leader David Wilkinson granted Archbishop's Accolade for his outstanding contributions in the field of education.
Astrophysicist and Methodist Minister Revd Professor David Wilkinson Receives Prestigious Lanfranc Award
Revd Professor David Wilkinson, a renowned scholar at the intersection of science and Christian faith, has been honoured with the 2022 Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship. The award, presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury, recognises Professor Wilkinson's outstanding contribution as a communicator and thinker.
As the Principal of St John's College, Durham University, and Co-Director of ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science), Professor Wilkinson has been instrumental in fostering dialogue and education about science and religion. His work seeks to make complex scientific concepts accessible to faith communities, promoting a harmonious relationship between the two fields.
Professor Wilkinson's lectures and courses aim to demonstrate the compatibility and mutual enrichment of scientific insights and Christian thought. He often emphasises that science does not negate faith but can deepen the understanding of God and creation. His talks, such as "God and Cosmology," illustrate his role in bridging scientific knowledge and religious belief in a rigorous academic context.
The Lanfranc Award, named after Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1070 to 1089, who was a scholar and teacher, was first awarded by Archbishop Justin Welby in March 2016. Previous recipients have worked quietly and discreetly, focusing on justice, reconciliation, poverty relief, the extension of the Kingdom of God, education for all, interdenominational and interfaith understanding, authentic worship, and prayer on behalf of the broken world.
Professor Wilkinson sees the award as a reflection of the educational work done at St John's College, Durham University, and within the project ECLAS. He also views it as a recognition of the Church's view of science as a gift from God. The Archbishop of Canterbury presented the awards on behalf of the Church of England but also, he hoped, on behalf of people of goodwill everywhere.
In announcing the awards, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the hope that the work and service of the award recipients provide in a world facing injustice, war, and pandemics. The Lambeth Awards, given to individuals from various faiths and none within the Church of England, the wider Anglican Communion, and other Christian churches, aim to celebrate those who make a significant contribution to the public square by bringing together science and Christian faith in full dialogue.
Professor Wilkinson has published books, including "God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse: What Hawking Said and Why it Matters" (SPCK, 2020). His work continues to bridge the gap between science and faith, encouraging a deeper understanding of both in the process.
- Professor David Wilkinson's work at St John's College, Durham University and ECLAS, as well as his publications like "God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse," contribute significantly to the education-and-self-development of individuals by fostering a harmonious relationship between science and religion, thereby promoting personal-growth.
- As a recipient of the prestigious Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship, Professor David Wilkinson demonstrates his commitment to education and self-development, using his platform to encourage the bridging of the gap between science and faith, which ultimately leads to personal-growth.
