Autumn Lecture Series 2025: Here I stand with Gwen Adshead
(Monday 13th October 2025)
When watching live, you can increase the quality of the video to 720p by pressing the ‘settings cog’ button on the video menu. You can also unmute and change the volume.
Dr Gwen Adshead is a distinguished forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist with nearly three decades of experience in the NHS, including work in prisons and secure hospitals like Broadmoor. In her role as both a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Professor Adshead has tried to understand the psychological mechanisms that give rise to violence and life-threatening behaviour toward others. She is a strong advocate for a more therapeutic, compassionate and rehabilitative approach to working with offenders, focusing on understanding the underlying psychological factors contributing to their behaviour rather than simply punitive measures.
Gwen Adshead is deeply engaged in discussions about the ethical dilemmas faced by forensic psychiatrists, particularly regarding issues of responsibility, free will, and the balance between public protection and individual rights. She has published over 100 academic works and holds an MA in Medical Law and Ethics, as well as an honorary doctorate from St George’s Hospital Medical School. A highly respected lecturer, she has been a visiting professor at Yale and Gresham College. In 2013, she received the Royal College of Psychiatry’s President’s Medal. She is also the co-author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Devil You Know: Encounters in Forensic Psychiatry. In 2024 she gave the BBC Reith Lectures.
Please let us know what you thought of tonight’s lecture and submit any suggestions for future themes and speakers by following this link here.
You may also like
ChoralCast – Sing joyfully (William Byrd)
Soprano Daisy Walford introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘Sing joyfully’ by William Byrd.
Contemplative Prayer, 2 April 2020
Nazareth Contemplative Prayer with Revd Richard Carter from St Martin-in-the-Fields.
ChoralCast – How shall I sing that majesty
Soprano Maisie Hulbert introduces St Martin’s Voices singing the hymn ‘How shall I sing that majesty’.
ChoralCast – My spirit sang all day (Finzi)
Tenor Will Wright introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘My spirit sang all day’ by Gerald Finzi.
ChoralCast – I was glad (C.H.H. Parry)
Soprano Hilary Cronin introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘I was glad’ by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.
ChoralCast – Amazing Grace (arr. Will Todd)
Alto Sophie Timms introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘Amazing Grace’ arranged by Will Todd.
ChoralCast – Crossing the Bar (C.H.H. Parry)
Tenor Chris Huggon introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘Crossing the Bar’ by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry.
ChoralCast – Ain’a that good news (arr. William Dawson)
#ChoralCast Day 1! Soprano Gabriella Noble introduces St Martin’s Voices singing ‘Ain’a that good news!
The Quality of Mercy in Drama
Two of Britain’s best-loved actors speak about the way drama leads us to experience the world through another’s skin. How does drama help us to discover the quality of mercy and all that threatens it?
The Quality of Mercy in Poetry
Mark Oakley and Malcolm Guite read and reflect on poems and explore poetry’s capacity to open our hearts and minds to deeper truths, with Revd Catherine Duce chairing the evening.
The Quality of Mercy in Music
Music is the unseen language which speaks to head, to heart and to life itself. This lecture will unite music and voice, to experience the quality of mercy with speakers Bob Chilcott and Lucy Winkett, performances by St Martin’s Voices
The Quality of Mercy in Story
Micheal Morpurgo speaks on The Quality of Mercy in Story and gives a reading from his new book Boy Giant: Son of Gulliver.
The Quality of Mercy in Social Justice
What part does ‘mercy’ play in social justice? Winnie Varghese, a priest in New York, speaks about mercy and race, Bishop James Jones speaks about mercy and justice for all.
The Quality of Mercy in Preaching
Three renowned thinkers and communicators, with very different perspectives, choose their own Bible passages to preach on ‘The Quality of Mercy’ and it’s meaning for us today
Sam Wells: Being with
Being with
Encountering God
In the last of our Encounter Series Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin’s asks the Most Revd Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, about how he has encountered God, in his own life.
Encountering the Sacred
I have seen the sun break through to illuminate a small field for a while, and gone my way and forgotten it. But that was the pearl of great price, the one field that had treasure in it.
Encountering Jesus of Nazareth
Encountering Jesus of Nazareth with Mark Oakley, Rose Hudson-Wilkin and Brother Sam SSF.
Encountering the Other: Rowan Williams
The first of our 2018 Autumn Lecture Series, Encounter. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rt Revd Rowan Williams speaks on the topic of Encountering the Other, followed by a Q&A from the audience.