Learning Adult Learning Summer Schools 2026 Join us in the beautiful setting of St Albans Cathedral this summer for an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the ancient languages of Latin or Greek (or both!). Whether you're continuing your language studies or rediscovering ancient texts in a fresh way, these summer schools offer inspiration, insight, and a deepened understanding — all under the guidance of expert tutor Dr John Taylor. We recommend that these are most suitable for those with intermediate level Latin and Greek. Dates | Tuesday 11 - Friday 14 August 2026 Times | 9:00 - 14:30 (Greek); 11:15 - 16:45 (Latin) Tickets | £125 for one language, or £220 for both languages (discount is applied at checkout) Greek: The Gospel of John The fourth Gospel stands at some distance from the preceding three as a spiritual meditation on the life and significance of Jesus, rich in symbolism. We will read Chapters 1 and 2 (the prologue ‘In the beginning was the Word’, and the miracle at Cana); Chapter 6 (‘I am the bread of life’); Chapters 9 to 11 (the man born blind, the good shepherd, and the raising of Lazarus – unique to John); and Chapters 18 to 20 (the betrayal, trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Image: Codex Aureus of Lorsch, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Book here Latin : Virgil's Georgics Book 4 Virgil’s four-book didactic poem about agriculture is less famous than his Aeneid but was described by John Dryden as ‘the best poem of the best poet’. Written during the turbulent years after the murder of Julius Caesar, it uses the farm as an allegory about the conduct of life and society. The climactic fourth book treats bees as an ideal citizen body of ‘little Romans’; this leads to an account of how the hero Aristaeus replaced his lost bees, with the haunting inset story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Image: Meister des Vergilius Romanus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Book here About the tutor Dr John Taylor is one of the country's foremost experts in the teaching of Greek and Latin. He is the author of numerous textbooks for learning the classical languages at all levels, including Latin Beyond GCSE and Greek Beyond GCSE, and co-author of Writing Greek: An Introduction to Writing in the Language of Classical Athens, as well as of collections of Greek Stories and Latin Stories for use alongside his own Greek to GCSE and Latin to GCSE textbooks. Photo © Freddie Pedlar Timetable The timetable has been designed to allow students to enroll on both languages in an intensive course, if desired. Alternatively, selecting just one language gives a more leisurely experience, with plenty of time to work on classwork between sessions. The sessions are scheduled as follows: 9-11 Greek 11.15-12.15 Latin 1.30-2.30 Greek 2.45-4.45 Latin How to Book Please click on the buttons above to select which summer school to book. For those purchasing tickets for both languages, the £30 discount will be applied at checkout. Tickets will be on sale until 6 August. Please ensure that you provide a current email address when you book. If you wish to book over the phone you may do so via the Box Office on 01727 890290. Clergy and Readers in St Albans Diocese have complimentary access to our Adult Learning courses, talks, study days, and reading groups. For clergy and reader bookings, please email [email protected] with your name and role and we will confirm your place. Cover image (c) Donato Cinicolo Manage Cookie Preferences