Theatre and the Church Fathers by Dr. Paul Blowers

The third annual gathering of the Chadwick-Oden lecture series featured Dr. Paul Blowers presenting "Theatre and the Church Fathers." Paul Blowers is the Dean E. Walker Professor of Church History at Millagan College. He is a scholar of patristics and early Christianity and has written also on the Stone-Campbell heritage.

Paul Blowers lectures at St. Michael's Abbey

Hosted at St. Michael's Abbey in Silverado Canyon, the event included two lectures by Dr. Blowers, ""Preaching Theatrically in the Early Church: Its Power and its Risks" and "Patristic Teaching on Biblical Tragedy and and its Value for Contemporary Homiletics."

The audience of 130 included Hilary, Juliet, and Priscilla Chadwick, daughters of the late Henry Chadwick, as well as Ed and Tal Oden, son and nephew of the late Thomas C. Oden.

The Chadwick sisters with Dr. Paul Blowers

Ed Oden, son of the late Thomas C. Oden

Tal Oden, nephew of the late Thomas C. Oden

The day concluded with a cocktail reception in the Abbey's library, home to Henry Chadwick's personal book collection and Thomas Oden's rare books and incunabula collection. The library was designed by Danish artist Maja Lisa Engelhardt, who, with husband, Peter Brandes, created original stained glass windows and bronzes.

'This lectureship series was named for Henry Chadwick and Thomas C. Oden whose work encouraged a revival of scholarship in the Early Church Fathers.