SPCK in Durham for the 1698 Club Dinner

January 14, 2019 Snehal Chavan

Fundraising Assistant Catriona Brickel blogs about the 1698 Club Dinner that took place on 11 January. 

On Friday 11 January, an eclectic mix of SPCK supporters met at St John’s College, Durham for the annual 1698 Club Dinner. This year, the list of attendees included: members of the 1698 club (who give at least £600 per year to SPCK), SPCK authors, academic theologians, SPCK trustees, prospective members of SPCK, representatives of Inter-Varsity Press and Christian media. Whilst it is true to say that everyone there had a slightly different background, and a slightly different interest in SPCK, we were all united by our shared commitment to building a world in which everyone is transformed by Christian knowledge. 

The evening began with afternoon tea at St John’s College, situated in the shadow of Durham Cathedral. Here we were welcomed by the College Principle, Reverend Professor David Wilkinson, before being led on a tour of the college by two ordinands. St John’s is one of only two officially recognised colleges of the University of Durham, and is home to Cranmer Hall, a theological college at which our former Chair of Trustees, Bishop John Pritchard, was once Warden. It was also home, back in the 17th Century, to the Bowes family, from which the Royal family is descended through the Queen Mother.

Eventually we made our way to the college Chapel, where the Bowes family is interred. Here we celebrated Evensong, presided over by the Revd Dr Philip Plyming, the current Warden at Cranmer Hall.
Following the service, we returned to the College for a drinks’ reception and presentations from SPCK staff and trustees. A particular highlight for me was seeing the way in which our partnership with IVP has developed over the past year. Together, both imprints serve the entire spectrum of Christian denominations, providing Bible studies, devotionals and commentaries on modern life to suit all Christian readers. So too we work together, as two separate but intimately connected Christian charities, each with the aim of sharing the Gospel.

Over a sumptuous dinner, we heard from Dr Elaine Storkey, an SPCK author who writes so eloquently on contemporary issues from a Christian perspective. Her latest book, Scars Across Humanity, is a fascinating exploration of the global issue of violence against women and how religion can help or harm women. But, as a welcome relief from speaking on gender (she informed us!), on Friday evening, Elaine spoke on the context in which SPCK operates, including the challenge of connecting with the millennial generation. Elaine’s work really showcases the diversity which exists within SPCK’s lists at present and highlights the ongoing relevance of religion within an increasingly secular world.

The 1698 Club dinner is an annual event at which we thank members of the 1698 Club for their extraordinary generosity. But it is also now a chance to celebrate all things SPCK, as we continue to develop as a modern publisher which serves the 21st century Christian community.

We love reaching out to people who are unaware of the huge number of projects that we work on. We are not just a Christian publisher; we are a Christian charity. Yes, we share the Gospel through our books, but we also show God’s love through our charitable programmes, including:

• Diffusion prison fiction, which transforms prisoners’ lives throughout the UK by developing literacy skills
• SPCK Assemblies, which makes collective worship in schools so much more engaging for children
• The African Theological Network Press, which provides a platform from which African theologians can be heard

Involved in each of these projects are a number of project managers, editors, website developers, writers and so forth. But the projects would not be possible without SPCK members, who give so generously to SPCK every year.

For just £60 per year, members of SPCK make this life-changing work possible. In return they receive:

• Regular updates on the impact of their donations;
• Invitations to SPCK events, including book launches;
• A vote at our AGM;
• A £10 voucher for use on our website

In a recent survey, 100% of SPCK members agreed that their membership with us was good value for money, with the newsletters being singled out as excellent reads.

If you would like to sign up to become a member of SPCK, please click here. 

If you are ready to secure your invitation to next year’s 1698 Club Dinner, then click here for more information! We would love to welcome you to our community of members, who are so fundamental to everything we do at SPCK.