Events

Join us to learn about the subject of Research Professor Sarah C. Williams's most recent book, When Courage Calls: Josephine Butler and the Radical Pursuit of Justice for Women.

About the Lecture

This lecture tells the story of feminist philosopher and social activist, Josephine Butler (1828–1906). From 1869 to 1885, Butler worked tirelessly to bring to the attention of Victorian society the plight of destitute women and children caught in the sex trade. She challenged contemporary attitudes, campaigned for the legal protection of women and children against sexual violence, and renegotiated the place of women in the public sphere. But what lay behind Butler’s bold critique of Victorian culture? This lecture will explore the intimate relationship between Butler’s spiritual practices and her perception of justice, offering a set of reflections on the vital importance of prayer for cultural transformation as relevant today as it has ever been.

About the Speaker

Sarah C. Williams is a historian, writer, and storyteller. Sarah trained as a historian at the University of Oxford, where she subsequently taught as Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Harris Manchester College, Lecturer at Trinity College, and Praelector at Lincoln College. At Oxford, she taught British and European political and cultural history from 1685 to 1939 and supervised graduates working on nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century religion and culture in the British context. 

In 2005, Sarah moved with her family to Vancouver to teach the History of Christianity at Regent College. After teaching at Regent full-time for over a decade, Sarah returned to the UK with her husband, Paul, to live in the Cotswolds, close to the city of Oxford, where she continues to write and research. She remains a Research Professor at Regent and returns regularly to teach during Regent’s Summer Programs.

Sarah C. Williams is teaching Marriage, Sex & Gender in Historical Perspective from July 7 to July 11 as part of Regent’s 2025 Summer Programs.