This took place in 1860 and is presented as a striking example of conflict between science and religion but the facts do not support this.
After John Draper presented a paper to the meeting, Samuel Wilberforce, who was a distinguished scientist as well as a bishop, responded in which he criticised Darwin’s theory on scientific grounds with no mention of Scripture or revelation.
During his response to a question asked by Thomas Huxley, Wilberforce made a, probably ill advised, joke at Huxley’s expense by saying “Is it from your grandfather or your grandmother’s side that you are descended from an ape?”.
The result was laughter in the audience which largely drowned out Huxley’s riposte, the exact wording of which is not agreed upon.
The debate made no headlines and in a book written by John Draper in 1874 on the (supposed) “history of the conflict between religion and science”, this debate is not even mentioned. If it was as significant as has been made out then it certainly would have been.
The reality appears to be that this debate was hyped up by people who wished to drive a wedge between science and religion with the consequence that a myth about the debate developed during the early 20th century.
At the time there was criticism of Darwin’s theory by religious and non-religious people alike.