Steve Bird Talk The Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade

After our dinner on 4 February, Steve Bird gave a very informative talk about The Cathars and The Albigensian Crusade.  The Cathars were a mediaeval religious sect in Southern France during which time their “heresy” flourished.  They were destroyed by an onslaught which included a crusade in Western Europe, the creation of the Inquisition and the Dominicans specifically to deal with them.  Crushing them also led to the beginnings of the church vs state arguments which ultimately led to the Reformation.  The talk was also an opportunity to see how beautiful some of the sites of the old Cathar strongholds are.

Steve's talks are in support of the SAS Regimental Association Charity, an organisation dedicated to ensuring the welfare of members and veterans of that august body plus their dependents.  Their website can be found at www.marsandminerva.co.uk