Formerly Archbishop of York, John Habgood has described himself as a conservative liberal." Liberalism, he has said, "represents an openness in the search for truth," which he believes is profoundly necessary for the health of religion; the essence of conservatism is "to treasure the things we have received and may not fully understand, and so to conserve them." Dr. Habgood was a demonstrator in pharmacology at Cambridge University from 1950-53; Curate at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington from 1954-56 and Vice-Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge from 1956-62. Thereafter he was Rector of St. John's Church, Jedburgh (1962-67), Principal of Queen's College, Birmingham (1967-73) and Bishop of Durham (1973-83). In 1973 he took his seat in the House of Lords, and from 1983-95 was Archibishop of York. He has maintained a keen interest in religion and science, publishing in this area. A phrase often expressed by him in a number of different contexts and pertinent to this conference has been his concern for "the real meeting of minds."