A LECTURE entitled ’Is Christianity good news for the poor?’ is being delivered at the Morlan Centre, a faith and culture centre in Aberystwyth, on Monday, 25 April, by Loretta Minghella, chief executive of Christian Aid UK.

The lecture is the second in a series of annual lectures organised jointly by Morlan and the James Pantyfedwen Trust.

Morlan organised its first Annual Lecture in 2010, but the James Pantyfedwen Trust has a far longer history of lectures dating back to 1961.

Richard Morgan, executive secretary of the James Pantyfedwen Trust said: “During 2014, the Trust and Morlan started discussing the possibility of working together on these annual lectures. As the two organisations share similar values, it was felt that merging the lectures would be beneficial to both parties.

"The first Morlan-Pantyfedwen Annual Lecture took place in May 2015. The partnership is working well and we hope to continue with the pattern that has been established of holding Welsh and English lectures alternately.”

Loretta Minghella is a qualified lawyer; after practising as a criminal litigator she embarked on a career in financial regulation in 1990. She has held several prominent posts including the first Head of Enforcement Law, Policy and International Co-operation for the Financial Services Authority and chair of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions’ Standing Committee on Enforcement and Information-Sharing.

In 2004, she became chief executive of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, where she oversaw the payment of over £21bn in compensation to victims of bank and other financial failures. Her contribution in that role earned her an OBE in the New Year’s Honours 2010. In April of that year she joined Christian Aid as its chief executive, where she is responsible for the strategic direction of the charity as well as plans and programmes across the world.

She is also a trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee and of St George’s House Trust (Windsor Castle), and a member of the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group.

Carol Jenkins, Morlan Manager said: “We are really pleased that the Chief Executive of Christian Aid is coming to give a talk at Morlan at this time, three weeks before Christian Aid Week when there is a lot of activity going on in Aberystwyth to raise money for this charity including a Bread and Cheese Lunch, coffee morning and a shop at Seion Vestry, Baker Street.”

The Morlan-Pantyfedwen Annual Lecture will start at 7.30pm, Monday, 25 April. Admission is free.