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ST STEPHEN’S HOUSE
NEWS
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St Stephen’s House News 2023 / 2024
PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME
2023 / 2024
CO N T E N TS
St Stephen’s House News
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N E WS Institute of Sacred Music, Oxford (ISMO)
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elcome to this year’s college newsletter. 2023 has been a momentous year for the college: on 1 October we ceased to be a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford, and after an initial trial year, the programmes set up to deliver the Common Award via the Edward King Centre for Pastoral Theology are now well embedded in our college life, and have been joined by the first cohort to study as students of the Institute of Sacred Music in collaboration with the Royal School of Church Music. It has been sad to say farewell to those students who were studying with us for the PGCE, but good to have continuing some of the PPH students who have elected to remain with us until the end of their course. Joining them have been new academic visitors, students from the university who have elected to live here as part of our community, and of course a new cohort of ordinands. Our commitment to sacred learning in a sacred place is already giving us new perspectives on our activities, making new connections, and giving confidence to our funders. We remain immensely grateful for all the support we receive: through prayer, through generous and sacrificial giving, and through the advocacy of numerous encouraging friends.
On the cover
Experiencing the Beauty of God (p15)
Vocation, Location, Location! (p17)
A detail from Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross by Ghislaine Howard Etching and drypoint, 12cm x 8.5cm, 2001
News ............................................................................................................................................................... 3 The Launch of The Institute of Sacred Music, Oxford .................................................................................... 5
The first series of free seminars on ‘Christian Worship, Music, and Human Community’ took place in Michaelmas Term, and are available via the ISMO website (ismo.ssho.org.uk) this Michaelmas Term. The seminars saw great collaboration with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) and included many interesting guest speakers.
A Summer placement at St Antony’s Priory, Durham ..................................................................................... 6 Meet the Scholars: The Edward King Centre .................................................................................................. 8 New Faces… ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Experiencing the Beauty of God ................................................................................................................... 15 Vocation, Location, Location! ........................................................................................................................ 17 Fact File: The British Accreditation Council (BAC) ........................................................................................ 20 Where are they now? .................................................................................................................................... 21 The Principal’s perspective ............................................................................................................................ 22 General College Enquiries College Secretary +44 (0)1865 599650 / college.secretary@ssho.ac.uk Development, Fundraising & Alumni Relations Rachel Makari-Brewin, Director of Development & Alumni Relations +44 (0)1865 599665 / rachel.makari@ssho.ac.uk Events & Venue Hire Hayley Edwards +44 (0)1865 599660 / hayley.edwards@ssho.ac.uk B&B accommodation Please book online through SpeedyBooker.com – alumni discount codes are available. SJE Arts Michèle Smith concert.manager@ssho.ac.uk
Editor: Rachel Makari-Brewin With many thanks to all contributors. Principal Canon Robin Ward Vice Principal Fr Andreas Wenzel Fellows Nick French: Bursar Prof Ian Boxall: Senior Tutor Mthr Lucy Gardner: Tutor Dr James Whitbourn: Senior Research Fellow St Stephen’s House 16 Marston Street, Oxford OX4 1JX Registered charity number: 1177459. Company number: 11199178
Congratulations to… Tim and Lois Davies, who were married on 17th of June 2023 at Manchester Cathedral.
SSH FC! The College football team had continued success in 2023, here pictured shortly before playing (and being beaten!) by Wycliffe Hall’s team. • The college is delighted that, thanks to the vigilance of a former student (Fr John Stather) who spotted it in a charity shop in Stoke on Trent, we have secured the picture that stood above the altar of the chapel when the College was at 5 Parks Road for £120. Ronald Knox said Mass regularly here when he was chaplain of Trinity College. The College also this year received the harmonium from the College’s former site in Norham Gardens, which is being redeveloped. • On the 120th anniversary of death of the College’s first Principal Robert C Moberly, the College welcomed his great-grandson, Prof Walter Moberly (Emeritus Professor,
The University of Durham), and received the gift of a photograph of his greatgrandfather. Pictured here with Vice Principal Fr Andreas Wenzel. • The first fruits of the new College vineyard, Oxford Riesling, being used at Holy Communion in St John’s Church, summer 2023. • In September 2023, Mother Lucy Gardner gave a paper on Balthasar and the Theological Imagination at a Cambridge Conference celebrating the work of Rowan Williams. • Senior Tutor and Tutor in Biblical Studies Dr Ian Boxall participated in the annual meeting of the International Commission for Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Disciples of Christ, which took place in Rome in June. The Commission members were received in private audience by Pope Francis during the course of their meeting.
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St Stephen’s House News 2023 / 2024
Edward King Centre
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From the shelves… the College librarian makes a recommendation
A variety of new lectures and seminars took place within the Edward King Centre this year, including: • A talk by The Revd Dr Andrew Norman, alumnus of St Stephen’s House on the topic of ‘Engaging with the Climate Emergency in a Rule of Life’ • A Canon Law study day, in cooperation with the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University • A series of talks by Professor Alison Milbank on the subject of ‘The Once and Future Parish’.
is the centre of the Universe or is a helpless bubble blown about by uncontrolled forces” Perhaps because for many of us Christmas isn’t Christmas without a reading, out loud, “In the Biography section of the House Library, of Christmas. alongside such Anglo-Catholic heroes as King Anyone with an interest in architecture or and Newman, John Betjeman is represented Anglicanism, faith or doubt, ritual or ceremony, by six volumes of biography and two of letters, laughter or sorrow, landscape or nature, life or more than any other non-theologian. Why? death, will find much to entertain, fascinate, Perhaps because he thought, ‘man is born to and provoke in these books. fulfil the purposes of his Creator i.e., to Praise The last word to my fellow Coventrian his Creator, to stand in awe of Him, and to and librarian, Philip Larkin: ‘What do we ask dread Him,’ differing from most modern poets, of poetry: emotion, technique, humour? “who are agnostics and have an idea that Man Betjeman has all of these.’”
An update from the SJE Arts team
People
It has been a really encouraging start to the 2023/2024 season at SJE Arts. Oxford Song brought us the wonderful baritone, Roderick Williams; in November we had Notos Quartett with Music at Oxford, and Orchestra of St John’s ongoing residency at SJE provided a cornucopia of lovely and varied performances – including a Messiah at Christmas. The SJE Arts International Piano Series continues in 2024. Nine concerts in all, mostly solo piano but with a sprinkling of variety. Exciting newcomers to the series include Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov performing ‘The Walls of Ancient Bukhara’, and from France, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet playing Debussy. Sir Stephen Hough makes a welcome return; Vadym Kholodenko brings his duo partner, the violinist Alena Baeva, and we are delighted to be hosting the premiere of a specially commissioned song cycle by Ian Venables, set for baritone, violin, cello and piano.
Congratulations to Canon Andrew Zihni (SSH 1999–2002) on his appointment as Dean of Gloucester earlier in January 2023. Congratulations to Fr Toby Sherring (SSH 2000–2002) who has been made Chaplain of Swan Valley Anglican Community School in Western Australia. Hayley Edwards has joined the College as Conference Services Manager. Bringing with her a wealth of experience in both conferencing and Theological Education Institutions (TEIs), she is a welcome addition to our wonderful hospitality team. Congratulations to the Rt Revd Philip North (SSH 1989–1992) on his nomination as Bishop of Blackburn.
in the Navy for nearly a quarter of a century, most recently as Chaplain of the Fleet. Congratulations to Fr Matthew Austen (SSH 2018–2020) who has been made Chaplain of Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham. The college joined many other friends in mourning the death of Anna Matthews, vicar of St Benet’s Cambridge, and a priest who gave great service to the ideal of Catholic ministry in the Church of England.
The College was also sad to learn of the death of Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Livingstone MBE (19292023), patristics scholar and Co-Editor of the The College was sad to learn of the death of Fr Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Martyn Gough (SSH 1988–90). Martyn served and Honorary Fellow of St Stephen’s House.
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THE LAUNCH OF THE
INSTITUTE OF SACRED MUSIC
OXFORD M
ay 2023 saw the launch of a new, hybrid learning offering from St Stephen’s House, The Institute of Sacred Music, Oxford (ISMO), launched in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). Building on the success of The Edward King Centre, The Institute of Sacred Music, Oxford offers graduate Common Awards qualifications in worship and liturgical studies, up to Master’s level, on a part-time or full-time basis and partly delivered online. Hilary term (January – March) will see students welcomed into the St Stephen’s House community to study in a residential setting in Oxford to enable practical formation, musical rehearsals, and a pattern of daily communal worship. As part of the programme the RSCM (whose Director Hugh Morris joined the launch event at St Stephen’s House) will provide a series of lectures, covering topics such as all-age and interfaith worship, and music in the context of secular society. Fr Andreas Wenzel, Vice Principal of St Stephen’s House, said: “The university city of Oxford offers an unparalleled setting for The Institute of Sacred Music, which offers selected liturgical and music experiences in Oxford chapels, together with context-based learning in aspects of choral preparation, as well as liturgical performance within the college’s own magnificent Church that serves as one of the chapels of St Stephen’s House.
“Informed by the Oxford Movement, St Stephen’s House Oxford values and cherishes the sacramental, musical, and liturgical traditions inspired by the revival of aesthetical theology, church life and worship in nineteenth century Anglicanism. Plainchant, Choral Evensong and sung Matins, sung Eucharists and extra-liturgical devotions, such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, form the weekly pattern of worship in college. Students can also explore other liturgical traditions present within the city of Oxford or the wider ecumenical settings of the Church of England. “The Institute of Sacred Music offers a unique place to study, worship, and perform, and is an ideal opportunity for musicians, music ministers, liturgists as well as musical or ministerial professionals worldwide to participate in part-time tuition at St Stephen’s House.” Professor Bennett Zon of Durham University, a Professor of Music and Co-Founder and Director of the International Network for Music Theology, said in his inaugural address at the launch event: “St Stephen’s House understands its own unique music theology, and I hope I can be part of its music theology in future and help St Stephen’s achieve all the success it so rightly deserves.” For more information on The Institute of Sacred Music Oxford, visit ismo.ssho.org.uk or contact ismo@ssho.ac.uk.
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St Stephen’s House News 2023 / 2024
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A SUMMER PLACEMENT AT ST ANTONY’S PRIORY, DURHAM Durham cathedral
The chapel
Tobias Thornes grew up in rural Worcestershire, and has always had a passion for the countryside, animal ethics and protecting the environment. He studied physics & astronomy at Durham University (2010 – 14) and obtained a doctorate in environmental physics from Oriel College, Oxford in 2018. He is a novice Franciscan tertiary, has written several books about environmentalism, sustainable economics, science and religion, and preaches concern for creation as a key part of the Christian calling.
Durham’s famous railway viaduct
Tobias at St Antony’s
St Antony’s octagonal chapel
idden away just off the busy street of Claypath in Durham city centre is the oasis of calm which is St Antony’s Priory. Despite having lived in Durham for four years whilst first at university, I had no former knowledge of its existence. Once a satellite community of the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM) – which ran a very successful theological college at Kelham in Nottinghamshire until its sudden demise in the 1970s – the Priory now represents the Society’s only remaining asset. There are no longer any professed members of SSM living there, and the Priory serves as a retreat house and a centre for the training of spiritual directors in the North East of England. I visited for three weeks during summer 2023, staying at the residential ‘cottage’ on-site just opposite the chapel. Completed in 1991, the chapel is unusual but surprisingly beautiful and very tranquil, octagonal in shape with a circular altar in the centre. The Priory also boasts some of the best views of Durham, with a stunning vista of the Cathedral and Castle from the garden on one side, and of the railway viaduct on the other. St Antony’s Priory does not have a parish and the placement was thus somewhat unusual in that there were no parishioners to visit or occasional offices to organise. Nor was there much engagement with the wider diocese save for a single pan-diocesan service in the Cathedral that happened to coincide with my visit. My first question on arrival was therefore, what will there be for me to do? I think the most valuable thing I drew from the placement, though, was the importance sometimes of simply being rather than doing – modelled for us by Jesus Himself whenever He ‘went up the mountain to pray’. As somebody who is usually very busy, the long spaces in the schedule were refreshing and allowed me to reacquaint myself with Durham’s beautiful surroundings on long walks into the countryside while reflecting on the past and on God’s calling to us today. Inside the Priory itself, the sense of space for silence and contemplation was palpable. The most consistent aspect of my placement was, not surprisingly, involvement in the Priory’s liturgical life. The current director Nicholas Buxton, being a former Staggers student, has introduced High Mass on a Sunday morning, at which I was the sole server, taking on essentially the roles of MC and thurifer at the same time. On two occasions I also had the opportunity to preach to the small but committed congregation of up to a dozen people. St Antony’s is essentially the only AngloCatholic establishment within walking distance of the city centre, and
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therefore attracts a particular sub-set of people in what is quite a ‘low church’ city. I also served at Low Mass, in addition to reading or leading at Morning and Evening Prayer. Having long periods of silent prayer in place of spoken intercessions at all of these services was a novel idea to me and a valuable one, and something that I have now incorporated into my own private practice. How not to be afraid to use extended silence during public services is definitely one of the things I learnt at St Antony’s, and this will I am sure enrich my ministry in years to come. The ability to be comfortable with corporate silence was further honed at the monthly Saturday morning meditation sessions led by Fr Nicholas, again attended by around a dozen people each time. Sitting in silence together for over half an hour at a stretch was a formative experience and one which harried clergy are, alas, seldom able to have, in spite of its evident spiritual benefits. The Saturday of the spectacular Durham Miners’ Gala offered a somewhat peculiar musical accompaniment drifting up from the streets below! As part of the placement I also got to know the team training spiritual directors, and something of the challenge of matching those searching for a spiritual director with a suitable mentor. Meanwhile, the Priory’s librarian was able to explain to me the role that the Priory is hoping to have in the future in preserving an archive of materials from religious communities that have died out – the religious life being in decline in this modern age, in many cases the records of monasteries that have shut have nowhere to go and could be lost if steps are not taken to save them. SSM seems to be playing a key role in helping to prevent this from happening through the creation of the Institute for Anglican Religious Life, based at the Priory. Serenhedd James, well known to all at St Stephen’s House, recently gave a talk to the Institute in the recently-refurbished library, which is still available as a recording from the Priory website. My final, modest contribution to Priory life was by participating in the perpetual programme of gardening required to keep this special place looking so picturesque. The head gardener being ever pleased to receive an extra pair of green-fingered hands, I was able to while away a few happy hours in this also quite meditative practice. Gardening is, after all, an essential skill for priests as attested to by Fr Robin Ward himself! Overall, I found St Antony’s Priory a refreshing, fulfilling and spiritually nourishing placement, and I hope to visit again in the nottoo-distant future.
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St Stephen’s House News 2023 / 2024
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MEET THE SCHOLARS THE EDWARD KING CENTRE
With the inaugural cohort of the College’s Edward King Centre having now completed its first year, we caught up with two students to hear what attracted them to studying with the EKC and their experiences so far.
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Name: Jay Harding Age: 35 Occupation: gardener, builder, potential ordinand, (and stilt walker!) EKC course: Foundation Award in Theology, Ministry and Mission (part time 1 year course, fully remote) Previous academic studies: BA History (2:1), The University of Exeter Lives: Guernsey
How did you come to study with the EKC? I was familiar with St Stephen’s House through several exceptional priests I know that undertook their ordination training at the College. I’d been impressed with their knowledge and approach to ministry, and it gave me a really good impression of where they had trained. I contacted the College to enquire about possible academic study, after which I joined a series of seminars with the EKC about the ‘once and future parish’ delivered by Revd Prof Alison Milbank, and after discussion with Fr Andreas, I took part in a taster module in Methods of Reading the Bible. I very much enjoyed both, and it was after this that I formally applied to do the Foundation Award with the Centre.
What interested you in this particular course? I’m interested in exploring whether I might be put forward for ordination, and not having come from a church background, the opportunity to engage with theological study, remotely but alongside those already in training for sacred ministry, is valuable. I’ll also be starting a year’s placement as a Parish Assistant in September.
From a practical perspective, the remote sessions work well, allowing for study anywhere. It means that when I move to London in September my studies can continue uninterrupted. I support my learning through a theological library available to me on the island at Les Cotils Christian Centre, and a fairly extensive one of my own, the legacy in part of someone who formerly taught in Oxford. For more modern texts, I’ve also found the wealth of resources available on the EKC website very useful, and the tutors are very willing to arrange zoom meetings if extra guidance is needed.
How do you interact with other students? I have felt able to fully participate in the seminars and discussions thanks to the technology that is used, and I’ve also been able to meet several other students during a one-day course on Canon Law that I attended in person. Having visited the college and gained an appreciation of its life and work means that entering a Zoom session feels more firmly connected to the community there. Some of us have also connected on Facebook as well as meeting again in Walsingham at the National and Youth Pilgrimages.
And how have you found remote learning? Being able to study with a theological college of the calibre of SSH for someone in my position is really a gift. My working life is busy and varied, and Guernsey is an awkward place to travel to and from, so learning remotely in this way opens up possibilities for me that otherwise just wouldn’t be viable.
Would you recommend EKC? Yes, I would. It’s a great way to access theological study remotely. Personally, I don’t think that this type of learning will or should replace ordination training, but for people at an early stage of exploring their vocation, it’s a great way in.
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Name: Fr Steve Rice Age: 44 Occupation: Rector, St Timothy’s Episcopal Church EKC course: MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (part time 3 year course, fully remote) Previous academic studies: BA in Psychology at Erskine College, MDiv at Emory University, Atalanta, DMin, Nashotah House Lives: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
How were you introduced to EKC? I have been a long devotee of St Stephen’s House having known several priests who were formed there – ‘From their fruits you shall know them’ – and I also attended some lectures at Nashotah House which Fr Robin delivered. I was thoroughly impressed with his philosophy and approach to education, so the opportunity to study with SSH remotely through the EKC felt like an incredible opportunity. Despite being separated by an ocean, I felt able to join the SSH community, and the excellent academic instructors that exist there.
Are there any particular subjects that you are looking forward to studying? Moral theology and liturgical theology are both areas that interest me tremendously, but to be honest, for me it’s more about the general quality of teaching. I know that being SSH that it will be top notch, so it will be beneficial whatever the subject. It has been a very challenging few years through Covid, and I am keen to reflect on the calling of the priesthood and also undertake other theological reflections that I was unable to do the last few years through the pandemic – things that will be a real boost to my spirit and mind, and ultimately the people I serve. During COVID, it was necessary to focus on practical and logistical matters and I am keen to return to a more spiritual context, to reset with a return ad
The College has welcomed several new people to both its staff team and governing body over recent months. Here we meet three of them…
Bishop Jonathan and I had worked together previously, and he asked me to join. I spent some time prayerfully considering it and talking to people who know the House before accepting.
How are you funding your studies?
How do you fit the work in? Fr Andreas was very helpful in discussing how the timings of sessions could be worked to suit my US time zone, but I am an early riser anyway, so getting up early to accommodate UK students works quite well for me, plus it avoids the busier times in the parish. My academic study with Nashotah House was also part time (although not remote) so I’m used to different ways of learning, and I think the work will energise me and give me more energy for my other areas of work. I have had some experience of remote learning having become a Zoom connoisseur during Covid, and I participated in a Zoom study day with Fr Robin previously, so I know how well it can work.
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fontes. In the States, there is some study on offer after ordination, but it’s not always very deep, and can be seem managerial in focus. To be able to go deeper and really explore things in more theological depth is something to treasure.
I am fortunate to have some budget made available to me for my continuing education, even though this parish is not endowed, we do have small investment which is to be used for continuing education for parish staff. I suspect this area is better funded than it sometimes is in the UK, at a parish level at least.
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Have you ever been involved in any similar organisations / roles?
Katie Harrison has built a career in public affairs and communications and has spent time as Social & Public Affairs Adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as a Special Advisor to 10 Downing Street. She recently accepted a position on the College’s House Council, which has responsibility for governance at the College as well as guiding its future. Please can you share why you decided to take up the position on the SSH House Council? It was a great honour to be invited to join the House Council. I knew of SSH from my work at Lambeth Palace and in other parts of the Church, and I also worship at the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace where the chaplain is a Staggers alumnus, but I had never been to visit.
I have been on quite a few Boards and served as a trustee or adviser, including the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT) and London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC), and I’m currently a trustee of the Centre for Cultural Witness which is the new organisation run by former Bishop of Kensington Graham Tomlin. I’ve also worked in politics, public affairs and social justice, so I’ve chaired a constituency association and been on advisory councils for the Cinnamon Network and for an IT company which employs people who might otherwise find it difficult to get a job (ex-offenders, people who have been in rehab, former homeless people, etc).
What do you see as the key future opportunities for SSH? There are so many exciting things happening in this part of the Church at the moment, and SSH has a tremendous opportunity to share its experience with other parts of the Church. We have a huge amount to offer, and I think St Stephen’s House has something very distinctive to bring which blesses the Church enormously. Through ministry, formation, thought-leadership, and online provision, we can take the beauty and richness of this tradition to
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skills in a similar way. At Westcott, I realised the need for strong and rigorous governance at theological education institutions (TEIs), and the modernisation process that was needed, and I helped to contribute a legal perspective to that process.
more and more people, offering something of the exuberance and reverence that we cherish.
And the key challenges?
St Stephen’s House News
Morag Ellis KC is a barrister, and is widely recognised as a leading expert in planning and local government law in England and Wales. In 2020, she was appointed Dean of the Arches and Auditor, making her the senior ecclesiastical judge of the Church of England. Like Katie, she recently accepted a position on the College’s House Council.
Understandably, not everyone who is pursuing a vocation is looking for residential training. Clearly, at SSH we see that formation in residential community is deeply enriching, and so one of our challenges is to continue to make this both attractive and available. The world of theological education and formation has changed enormously in recent years, and continues to do so, and we cannot expect to operate in exactly the same ways that we always have. Our challenge is to hold on to that which we believe God has called us, offering it to the Church in a way that works for today’s demands, which will mean being open to Can you share why you decided to take up the discerning when and how to change. position on the SSH House Council? I grew up in family with a history of non-conformism on one side, but How do you hope to use your skills to contribute to my mother was always and remains a strong Anglo-Catholic, so I had the future strategy at SSH? a rich Christian heritage growing up as a child. I went to a Methodist I have commercial experience of setting up a new business unit within boarding school in North Wales but aged 13 decided to be confirmed as a research agency and creating a new market by using thoughtan Anglican, drawn by the importance of the Eucharist. In recent years, I leadership and strategic communications. I’m excited about the new have felt very aware of wanting to find a clear direction for my career and online resources we can offer and want to help share our knowledge began prayerfully considering this. Since 2018 when I became a Church and wisdom more widely. Commissioner, opportunities for serving the Church have opened up I like figuring out how to get things done while managing risk and I now spend about a third of my time on church governance and well, especially in terms of reputation and communications. Risk is not legal work: the role at SSH is part of this focus. I knew the House a little always a reason to avoid doing something; understanding risk means as I had previously stayed there for the annual ecclesiastical judges’ we can make wise and robust decisions intelligently. conference, but was keen to find out more, and to offer my help. And, as a recovering Pentecostal, I’m ridiculously enthusiastic about everything I’m involved with (unashamedly so, given that the You’ve previously held a similar role at Westcott word means ‘a state of being in/inspired by God’, which I like to House, is that correct? think justifies my excitement!) so I’m looking forward to joining in Yes, I was on the council at Westcott House for a number of years, wholeheartedly with the things God is doing here. so when the invitation to join SSH came up, I was keen to offer my
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income streams that sustain the College alongside its core mission to train priests. I believe it is on a good trajectory here. I also wonder if there is some work to be done on updating perceptions in relation to women training at SSH – my impression is that women ordinands feel supported and I personally got a sense Are there particular areas where you hope to share of the College being the CofE in microcosm, but these women are your skills with SSH? extraordinarily important – perhaps the most important – ambassadors I led a review to modernise the safeguarding policy at Westcott House for SSH. and I now sit on the Church of England’s National Safeguarding I am too new to know what the new relationship with Oxford Steering Group (NSSG), so I feel that this is a particular area where I University will mean, but it is positive that the College and University may be able to share my experience. And I also hope to bring the TEI will continue their close associations – the church needs people (not perspective and voice to a national forum, as well. everyone) who have studied at that level – it needs theologians and I am also helping to contribute to the review of SSH’s property and highly educated people who have studied and can think and lead and development projects. My work as a planning barrister means that I can guide the church in modern life. bring direct skills to any future plans at SSH, so that is an area I hope to help with, too.
What do you see as the key future opportunities for SSH? SSH has this wonderful tradition, and its distinctive – almost monastic – approach to formation, which is wonderful and valuable, and from that strength I would hope that the House can be open to external influence and input. Oxbridge can sometimes be very introspective (I went to Cambridge; I understand something of this) and I think it is a good thing to challenge that – I hope to be part of challenging that where appropriate. SSH is a great role model for other TEIs in showing the importance of Canon Law, and its work and collaboration with relevant bodies in this area has been a very positive step. This sort of outward facing work, alongside initiatives such as the Edward King Centre and the Institute of Sacred Music, is terrifically important for the future of the House, particularly as theological education changes. TEIs must diversify, and SSH has already shown really positive signs of this, offering enormous potential to enrich the lives of the SSH community, and giving to the wider church.
And the key challenges? The Church is set to lose a great deal with the move away from residential ordination training and SSH needs to make sure that its financial basis is secure and that its business plan includes a range of
Clare Williams is a guest lecturer at SSH, and a specialist in the field of children and youth ministry, an area of work which she has dedicated her career following the completion of her Masters studies in Theology at Cardiff University. She also sits on the Church of England’s General Synod.
Can you tell us a little more of your work, both at SSH and more broadly? My job is Head of Schools & Family Learning at Norwich cathedral, where we work with around 20,000 children and young people each
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year to introduce them to the cathedral and to teach them about its history and its importance for worship today. My experience ranges from nursery-aged children to A-level students, and I have spent much of my career in this field, including time spent as the Children and Youth Work coordinator in the Diocese of St David’s in Pembrokeshire. I was delighted to be asked by SSH to share my experience with its ordinand students, not least because this is a vital area of formation and ministry for priests, and one which is increasing in importance. Surprisingly, many theological education institutions (TEIs) still do not offer a specific unit on the topic on children and youth ministry. So SSH is offering something different, valuable, and field-leading.
Can you explain why this area is so important, and why it is increasing in importance? ‘Growing younger and more diverse’ is one of the three main strands of the CofE’s strategy, so this is clearly an important area for the future of the church. At a recent General Synod [Clare sits on General Synod] a motion was passed calling for more youth representation on Synod and more youth voices and also the redevelopment of a youth strategy – Growing Faith Foundation – in churches. It’s vital that the Church more effectively joins up the ‘church-school-home’ strategy and it’s positive to see that increasing levels of resource are being ploughed into this area, although more is needed. So, in terms of training, clergy are going to need training to adopt this way of thinking. All clergy are expected to have knowledge of schools’ ministry
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– it is after all a key part of parish work for many priests, but often ordinands are expected to pick this up through placements. In theory, that is great, as it can give hands-on experience, but it’s obviously not guaranteed in every placement, or it might be a very different context to where they may end up for their curacy. So making it a more formal part of training is a very positive move.
EXPERIENCING THE BEAUTY OF GOD
What does your teaching at SSH involve? It is still early stage, but my teaching consists of a pastoral studies unit on the subject of children and youth ministry, including topics such as child development, children’s spirituality, as well as ways of developing practical ideas and resources. It is hoped that the lectures will be part of the regular program, along with some practical sessions. These practical sessions might include parish visits to see youth work in action so that ordinands can see the theory put into practice and look at ways of engaging with children and young people in parish and church settings.
Why was it that you decided to take up the position at SSH? I really enjoy seeing people engaging in children and youth work at a parish level, but this can often be focused at the more evangelical end of the spectrum and often doesn’t fit other types of parish. My personal preference is for Anglo-Catholic worship, so I have developed my own resources that are often a better fit for these parishes, and which can sit alongside other initiatives. I suppose my work with SSH is an extension of this vocation, and an area I feel I can make a difference on a broader scale. Children’s and youth ministry is an area that is often led by women, often older women because of the pressures on working age women, and almost always on a voluntary basis. It is amazing, and a real gift to the Church, but it is under recognised. I frequently come home from work and go straight out to run a youth group – I do it because it’s my vocation. But I think the Church needs to appreciate this type of ministry better and support it with more funding and career progression, there should be other pathways available to those who wish to pursue a career in the Church but do not feel called to ordination. I am passionate about developing this thinking, but there is a lot of work to be done.
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The Revd Dr Kent Walley recently visited St Stephen’s House on sabbatical from his role as Rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Gladstone, New Jersey, USA. Here he reflects on his time spent in Oxford.
found myself marveling at the work of God, weaving strands into a during his tour of several Anglican monastic houses before returning to beautiful tapestry as I began my sabbatical at St. Stephen’s House Germany to lead an illegal confessing church seminary. I was unaware of Oxford (SSHO). The strands: research on the life and theology of Bonhoeffer’s connection with SSHO prior to our arrival. Nor did I realize Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the rhythm of worship, stimulating fellowship, when I planned the dates for our Oxford stay that there would be an and sacred choral music converged in most academic Bonhoeffer Conference offered at extraordinary ways. Regents Park College during that time. About the author I came to SSHO at the The second strand of God’s handiwork The Reverend Dr. Kent R. Walley beginning of my sabbatical, involved worship, in particular attending has served as a parish priest in the funded by a clergy renewal services of choral evensong. What a privilege Episcopal Church for 23 years. He grant from the Lilly Endowment it was to be at SSHO for the launch of the is currently the Rector of St. Luke’s which requires applicants to Institute for Sacred Music Oxford (ISMO) Episcopal Church, Gladstone, New develop a theme for the sabbatical that and to attend that service of choral evensong. Jersey, USA. Prior to ordained ministry involves the parish in parallel activities. The My experience of participating in the chapel he worked as a Campus Staff Member theme that I chose was applying the theology services and worship life of SSHO created a for Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship and life example of Bonhoeffer to the present true Sabbath time for me of not just resting, for 15 years. Kent is a graduate of state of the church. After beginning with but resting in worship. And I was moved to the University of Michigan (Bachelor study in Oxford, I planned to walk in the tears at several beautiful choral evensong of General Studies), Trinity School steps of Bonhoeffer by visiting Rome, a place services at nearby colleges, especially for Ministry, Ambridge, PA (Master formative in his early development, then Berlin at Merton and Magdalen. Such worship of Divinity) and Fuller Theological where he lived, and finally Geneva where he experiences felt like a taste of heaven. As Seminary (Doctor of Ministry 2012). frequently participated in meetings concerning the pure voices reverberated in the chapels He serves on the Bishop’s Advisory ecumenical youth work. with their excellent acoustics there was a Committee for Liturgy and Music in The first strand of God’s tapestry was transcendent quality, an ethereal beauty that the Diocese of New Jersey and on the the surprising discovery that I had already inspired the heart in contemplation of the board for From Houses to Homes, a begun walking in the steps of Bonhoeffer. majesty and beauty of God. chartable organization building homes Vice Principal Andreas Wenzel told my wife, The Master Weaver threaded the for people living in rural Guatemala. Joy, and me on our first day at SSHO that second strand around the first strand as my Kent and his wife of 36 years, Joy, have Bonhoeffer had stayed in these buildings Bonhoeffer research took an unexpected turn. two adult sons, Philip and Stephen. when they housed the Society of St. John Reading about his formative time in Rome, the Evangelist. Bonhoeffer visited in 1935 I was stunned to discover in his diary that
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the very day that Bonhoeffer said, “I am beginning to understand the concept of church” he had been deeply touched by a service of choral evensong. He wrote: On Sunday afternoon in the Trinità dei Monti it was almost indescribable. Around 6 o’clock approximately 40 young girls who wanted to become nuns entered in a solemn procession wearing nun’s habits with blue or green sashes. The organ began to play. With unbelievable simplicity, grace, and great seriousness they sang Evensong while a priest officiated at the altar. The impression left by these novices was even greater than would have been left by real nuns, because every trace of routine was missing. The ritual was truly no longer merely ritual. Instead, it was worship in the true sense… The day had been magnificent. It was the first day on which something of the reality of Catholicism began to dawn on me – nothing romantic, etc. – but I think I’m beginning to understand the concept of ‘church.’ (DBWE1, Vol 9, p. 110–1) Although translated into English as “evensong” the service was most likely sung vespers. Nevertheless, Bonhoeffer’s experience of sacred choral music in Rome was significant in drawing this young man whose family never attended church, not even on Christmas and Easter, to an appreciation of the church. It wasn’t just at that one service; his diary contains many entries of how he was enthralled with the sacred choral music he heard in Rome. He would subsequently write his doctoral dissertation on the church. That dissertation, Sanctorum Communio, (Sacred Community) became foundational to his theology and ministry: in it he argues that Christ is present in the church-community, in His people gathered. Bonhoeffer also would eventually discern a call to be not just a theologian, but to serve as a pastor in church ministry. Sacred choral music played an important role in leading Bonhoeffer to the church. How remarkable it was to me to be so moved by choral evensong in Oxford, present for the launch of ISMO, in a house where Bonhoeffer had stayed, now discovering that sacred choral music played a significant role in shaping the direction of both Bonhoeffer’s life and theology!
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The third strand the Lord weaved into this remarkable tapestry involved the fellowship that Joy and I experienced at SSHO. It truly was a tangible, living example of Sanctorum Communio. We were so grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome of Fr. Andreas and the entire SSHO community. The conversations at mealtimes, tea times, and formal dinners with students, ordinands, staff, and faculty were stimulating and enriching. From these delightful conversations we learned about varied life experiences, perspectives, and theology. And it was also a privilege to speak of the remarkable life and theology of Bonhoeffer with many people at SSHO on several occasions. I was reminded at one of the chapel services of why the Mass is also called Communion – for I felt in my spirit a communion with the community of SSHO even as we worshipped together, and the Mass was celebrated. I felt that a spiritual connection was formed. Considering the privilege of being at SSHO for the ISMO launch and considering the influence of sacred choral music in contributing to the shaping of Bonhoeffer’s view of the church, I reflected on an experience in choral evensong at Christ Church. One sits facing other worshippers in these services, and at this particular evensong, I noticed people across from us with their eyes closed: a couple, and another family including a young teenage boy. The couple had their eyes closed with expressions of delight on their faces, relishing every moment of the beautiful service and its music. I too felt we were experiencing something of the wonder and beauty of God. But the young teenage boy had his eyes closed for a different reason. He held his head down, and was clearly bored, and even appeared to be trying to sleep. This service held nothing that interested him. I pray for the church to not close our eyes or fall asleep to the treasure that sacred choral music is to the people of God. I pray that we help young people appreciate how sacred choral music can convey something of the beauty of God. I pray that others will be drawn to the church by the beauty of sacred choral music, just as the young 18-yearold Bonhoeffer was. And I pray that this new Institute of Sacred Music at Oxford will be a beacon on a hill illuminating ways that the church might carefully steward this sacred treasure.
DBWE: Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Paul D. Matheny, Clifford J. Green, Marshall D. John, and Mary C. Nebelsick. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works. Vol. 9, The Young Bonhoeffer, 1918–1927. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2003. Twentieth Century Religious Thought. Web. 1
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VOCATION
LOCATION
SSH News catches up with two different alumnae serving their curacies in different locations: the Provinces of York and Wales.
LOCATION!
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THE PROVINCE OF WALES: THE REVD JOSIE GODFREY Role: Assistant Curate of Bro Deiniol and Minor Canon of St David’s Cathedral, Bangor Education: BA Theology & Religion and PGCert, SSH, and BMus, Kings College, London
“B
angor was quite a big move for me and is obviously a long way from Oxford and far away from all the people and places I knew. I’ve always done bellringing whichever church community I’ve been part of, but Bangor cathedral doesn’t have any bells (bells are much less common in Welsh churches) so I’ve missed that a bit. But there have been lots of new places and people to get to know, but I’ve also mean made very welcome. Living on my own after years spent living in student accommodation and small flats – I now have a beautiful big 3/4 bedroom seafront house to myself, which has been a big change, if a struggle to furnish! It has a lovely view across to Anglesey across the Menai Straits, and although it was quite lonely to start at times, one of the benefits of working in a cathedral is that there is a larger staff team – a large clergy team and other cathedral staff, plus the diocesan offices are on the same site too – so lots of ready-made friends.
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I’m lucky enough to be in the most beautiful location. I went to the beach last night with a friend and swam in the sea, and there are lots of mountains nearby, so lots of lovely walks. Getting to grips with the Welsh language has been one of the main challenges that I’ve faced – many people prefer to speak Welsh here in North Wales, and we have a Choral Eucharist in Welsh on a Sunday, as well as dual-lingual services through the week. I am practising on DouLingo and also picking up lots of liturgical language. Plus I’m also starting a weekly Welsh lesson – they are free for under 25s. I have a training incumbent who is a member of the cathedral clergy team and Area Dean, and for the first couple of weeks I shadowed her. She took me along to everything that she did and I got a real sense of the lie of the land so to speak. My induction period also included meeting everyone and visiting all the key places, and the Bishop of Bangor (who is also the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John) is regularly in the cathedral. When it comes to continuing development and training, there’s a newly licenced ministers training programme for Welsh priests which I am part of, which is run out of St Padern’s in Llandaff. Each training course tends to take place every couple of months in a different location around Wales. My first event was a few days after ordination and was delivered by an external company and focused on improving communication skills. Other topics include sessions on team dynamics and children’s families and schools. There is also an initiative called Welcome to Wales – which is run by the Archbishop’s office and welcomes new entrants to the Church of Wales. Overall, I have felt very supported in my new role, particularly when it comes to learning the language – both formal courses but also gentle help with my pronunciation. I still have a lot to learn, but it feels as if there will be a lot of support. I do feel a long way from friends and family, but there is a nice community and a good sense of staff morale. I particularly like Sundays because we tend to spend the whole of the day together – we usually all go for lunch together and then after Evensong we tend to go for drinks. There are lots of people around my age (mid-20s), partly because of Bangor is such a university city, so it’s a nice, relatively young group of people. As to the future, it’s too early to say really, and it also depends on what is available when I come to move on from my curacy in three years. I certainly love the area and am developing lots of friends here.”
THE PROVINCE OF YORK: THE REVD MILLIE DAY Role: Assistant Curate in the parishes of St Andrew’s Ferrybridge and St Edward the Confessor, Brotherton, Wakefield Education: BA Theology, Mission & Ministry, SSH, prior to which Millie was training and working as a chef Huddersfield
“I
’m originally from Halifax and was working as a chef when I decided to pursue my vocation. This led to me taking up a pastoral assistant role in a parish in London, which I did for three years before moving to Oxford for three years to undertake my ordination training at SSH. It was a real pleasure to return to the north when Leeds Diocese offered me a curacy. I had always wanted to return to my home area, and by the time I came to be ordained deacon in the summer of 2022 I’d been away for 7–8 years. My husband Andrew and I moved from a small 1-bed flat at Moberly Close to a very large 4-bed house here in Castleford, which is about 3 miles outside of the Parish, so it’s been quite a big change for us, but it’s lovely to have the extra space. It’s both a blessing and a curse not to live directly in the parish. It has taken a few months to settle in, but I find the area very friendly. It has been interesting to return as a member of the clergy and see how things work ‘from the other side’ in the diocese. There’s been lots to learn, and having been part of parishes in several dioceses over the last few years (London, Oxford and Leeds) it’s been interesting to observe the differences and similarities. I tried to get to know as many people as possible as soon as possible when I first arrived: churchwardens, parishioners, the local schools and so on. I think the ability to just ‘get stuck in’ so to speak is a really vital skill for a new curate, and I tried hard to do that. It’s just me and my training incumbent (TI) covering a benefice that includes five churches, at the moment, so it’s busy! I’d had a
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fair amount of previous parish experience, but I hadn’t realised how different it would feel and how differently people would treat me as a 25-year old (female) member of the clergy. Usually, people are expecting a 60 year old man when I turn up, but on the whole, people are accepting. Getting to grips with working on my own a lot has been a big transition for me – at SSH I was surrounded by peers and there was a lot of structure, particularly in relation to worship. It’s been strange to say my morning prayers on my own in my study as opposed to amongst 20 or so other ordinands, and that took a lot of getting used to. But it is a comfort to know there are other ex-Staggers priests all over the world doing the same thing! We’re working hard to try and get more people into our churches, especially younger people – under 60s are rare here. As someone newly ordained and at the very start of their vocation, seeing the church in its current state, and with people often recalling the way things used to be done, can be discouraging. There is a strong Initial Ministerial Training (IME) plan in our diocese, which includes the 23 of us that were deaconed at Wakefield cathedral in 2022. Some IME work is done all together, and some in smaller groups, with sessions around every 6-8 weeks. Topics have ranged from communications, social media, advertising to working with schools, as well as learning in intricate detail how to do a baptism, a funeral, Mass. The latter was covered at SSH fairly extensively, but – perhaps surprisingly – it turns out not all TEIs teach this. Both my original IME Officer, who was also my first Archdeacon, and the Bishop of Wakefield (Tony Robinson) have really supported me – I can pick up the phone to both of them without hesitation, which is really nice. So far things are going really well, and on my days off, we tend to take advantage of the fact that we’re only 10 minutes or so from the Yorkshire Dales. Once I’ve served my curacy here (which will be between 3–4 years) I’d ideally like to stay in this diocese but if not this diocese, then the York Province for sure. There are so many priests in the south and in London, I want to serve the north. I quite like the idea of exploring becoming a chaplain, either in a hospital or hospice, I think. I’m not so keen on an incumbency right now – perhaps some stage in the future, after I’ve done something a bit different first.”
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– Fact File –
THE BRITISH ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (BAC)
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
diverse education providers. UK and overseas governments seek BAC’s advice based on its experience and unrivalled knowledge of the sector.
In each issue of the College newsletter, we catch up with an alumnus to find out what they have gone on to do after leaving the College and their memories of studying here…
Key people
• Dr Janet Bohrer, Chief Executive – As St Stephen’s House changes its relationship Janet joined the BAC in 2019, prior to with the University of Oxford, it has which she was Director of Teaching, Quality established a new relationship with the British and Enhancement at London South Bank Accreditation Council (BAC), having been University (LSBU). She has also worked accredited in July 2023. Here we look at the at the University of North London and BAC and the accreditation process. at Sheffield Hallam University. She has a combined studies degree (Psychology Location and Sociology), a master’s degree in London, UK Occupational Psychology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching in About / history Higher Education and a Doctorate in The BAC was established in 1984 ‘to Education (EdD). provide a comprehensive quality assurance • Professor Phil Cardew – Chair of the scheme for independent further and higher Trustees and Deputy Vice Chancellor education in the UK’. It is a not-for-profit social (Academic) at Leeds Beckett University enterprise dedicated to maintaining global • Professor David Law – Vice Chair and educational standards by helping students to Academic Director: Global Partnerships in the choose reputable sources that meet globally Vice-Chancellor’s Office at Keele University. recognised quality standards. Based in the UK, for over 30 years its What is the accreditation process? accreditation is held by hundreds of colleges and Accreditation is based on an inspection of training providers in both the UK and overseas the full range of an institution’s provision, and BAC accreditation is globally recognised as a and the BAC also requires evidence that an mark of educational quality in the private sector institution’s management maintains acceptable and it has overseen the inspection of private standards and its legal obligations during the post-16 education for over 30 years. period of accreditation. Its central office staff and a network of Prospective institutions undergo a expert inspectors work together to help first level of scrutiny by BAC staff through independent education and training providers the application review stage. Once this is raise their standards and reach their potential. completed, institutions undergo a rigorous The BAC’s services include accreditation inspection which assesses the provision and bespoke consultancy for a wide range of against the minimum standards set out. A
St Stephen’s House News
Name: Benjamin Kirby Studies undertaken at SSH: BA Theology
report of this inspection is then considered by the Accreditation Committee, which can then decide to award, defer or refuse accreditation based on the evidence of whether all minimum standards have been met.
What did the BAC say about SSH? • ‘Staff use a wide range of teaching and learning methods, as evidenced in lesson plans and confirmed by teaching observations. This ensures that a range of learning styles are catered for, using methods including presentations, group work and an individual reflective practice element.’ • ‘Teaching rooms are appropriately equipped with… IT equipment to support the delivery of presentations and synchronous in-person and online teaching as well as seminar and discussion sessions.’ • ‘All modules have clearly set out learning outcomes’ • ‘The Institution has its own library with approximately 15,000 texts, as well as providing access to a wide range of suitable electronic resources’ • ‘Students have access to a wide-ranging social programme’ www.the-bac.org
Year of graduation: 2010 Undergraduate degree/other studies (before or after SSH): MA Religion and Public Life (University of Leeds, 2013), PhD (University of Leeds, 2017) Your current role (or what are you currently doing) Assistant Professor for the Study of Religion, University of Bayreuth, Germany
Please briefly describe a typical day (for you, in your current role)
Are there any particularly memorable moments or experiences from your time at the College?
I am currently dedicating as many hours of the day as possible to completing my first monograph (an ethnographic study of Muslim politics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania).
Half-time orange slices in our football match against Cuddesdon; bringing friends and family to Thursday formals; being told at breakfast that I shouldn’t worry about a forgotten G&T that I’d spotted on a windowsill by the Dining Room because someone Could you tell us about your time at SSH? What was would “soon polish it off”; seeing the then-Archbishop Rowan life like when you were here? Williams racing out of the Moberly Close carpark, having visited I arrived at SSH as part of the first (multi-person) cohort of independent Sister Benedicta Ward; my first real exposure to the Catholic tradition BA Theology students. There were four of us, all aged 18 and 19, fresh in the Church of England. from completing our A-Levels. We were catapulted into undergraduate life, with all the essaying and “extracurricular activities” (to borrow What advice would you give to someone considering Fr Robin’s memorable phrase) this entailed. After our first year, we studying here? were each translated to different colleges, but three of us – by then I can enthusiastically recommend SSH: my time at the College, and firm friends – rented a Moberly Close flat together and therefore Oxford more generally, was formative in multiple respects, and I often maintained close ties to SSH. find myself looking back on it fondly.
How did SSH prepare you for what you’ve subsequently gone on to do? Ian Boxall’s tutorials and Andrew Davison’s seminars numbered among the best learning experiences that I had at Oxford and, together with Common Room conversations with Robin Ward and Lucy Gardner, no doubt helped steer me in the direction of academia.
Any parting thoughts? Simply gratitude for happy memories of warm summer evenings spent working on essays in the College Library with the sound of students and fellows in the Common Room below chatting, laughing, sometimes singing at the piano. I would continue writing until about 2 o’clock and then creep back to my room.
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ORDINATIONS TO THE DIACONATE 2023 • Timothy Davies, Swindon New Town (Parish of Swindon New Town), Swindon • Josephine Godfrey, Bangor (St Deiniol), Wales • Duncan Hegan, Holborn (St Alban the Martyr), London • Richard Keeble, (St Saviour’s), Eastbourne
THE PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
S
t Stephen’s House was founded in Oxford in 1876, but it was not until 1970 that the college began to have a more formal relationship with the University. Until then, all candidates studied for some version of the General Ordination Examination, later the General Ministerial Examination (GME). A very few students did study for Oxford degrees: a notable example was Lord Hope of Thornes, whose DPhil thesis on the Leonine Sacramentary was subsequently published as an Oxford Monograph. But these had to matriculate through other colleges, in his case Linacre. But in the early 1970s the GME was phased out and colleges were encouraged to arrange locally validated qualifications with partner universities. In Oxford this had two important consequences: from 1970 the four Anglican theological colleges – Wycliffe Hall, Cuddesdon, Ripon Hall and ourselves – were allowed to matriculate candidates for the BA degree in Theology as a collective, and the University introduced a series of one-, twoand three-year Certificates in Theology and for Theology Graduates to replace the GME. This arrangement obtained until the mid 1990s, when two of the Certificates were converted to degrees of the University particularly intended for ministerial candidates: the Bachelor of Theology and the Master of Theology. This meant that many more of our candidates became matriculated members of
the University. By the early 2000s it looked increasingly likely that nearly all our ordinand students would be studying for some sort of Oxford degree, and at that point the college decided to apply for the status of a Permanent Private Hall. At the time this status had woken up from a somewhat sleepy history, as Wycliffe Hall and Blackfriars had recently become PPHs, and Regent’s Park College had expanded significantly from its previous role as a Baptist training college. In our application we expressed no desire to expand significantly in numbers, but we did hope to admit more graduate students, especially those reading for research degrees. Our application was successful, and we became a PPH in 2003. However, complications immediately ensued. An internal review by the University in 2007 imposed restrictions and regulation on the Halls which were unwelcome, but most seriously the removal of the fee cap and the consequent exponential increase in the University fee meant that the existing Oxford qualifications became unaffordable to the Church of England. The introduction of the Common Award in response to this meant that a majority of our ordinands were for the first time since 1970 studying for qualifications not validated by the University of Oxford. A compensatory factor was that the University during this period had significantly expanded its graduate numbers and needed to place
these candidates in the colleges and Halls: as a consequence, we built up the largest cohort of Postgraduate Certificate in Education students in the University. However, this was not in itself enough to allay concerns on both sides about the durability of the relationship, and when the University indicated that it was to withdraw the temporary permission given to the Anglican Halls to use the Common Award, we elected to relinquish our PPH Licence and return to our former status, able to matriculate ordinand and clergy candidates for Oxford theology degrees but have other academic partnerships as well, most notably via the Common Award with Durham. This is perhaps a rather dry account, heavy on academic politics. But the life of the college has been hugely enhanced by the presence here of so many non-ordinand students over the last two decades, not least almost 500 PGCE students. At least two ordinands have married fellow students whom they have met here, and in all sorts of ways former members of the college continue to make interesting and important contributions to our life. I am grateful for that, and we will look back with thankfulness and without regret to the twenty years during which our somewhat opaque academic status as a Hall opened up for us almost by happenstance a rich human environment of new encounters and learning.
ORDINATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD 2023 • Andrew Bailey, London Docks (St Peter) with Wapping St John, London • Thomas Cotterill, Brighton (St Bartholomew), Chichester • Michael Dixon, Cantley (St Wilfred), Sheffield • Tati Gutteridge-Kalveks, Greenwich (St Alfege), London • Daniel Heaton, Horbury (St Peter & St Leonard) & Horbury Bridge, Leeds • Stephen Miller, Hammersmith (St Luke) & Hammersmith (St Matthew), London • Sebastian Way, Reading (St Giles with St Saviour), Oxford Calvin Robinson Christ Church, Harlesdon
The 1876 Society Thank you to all members of the 1876 Society for their support: • Stuart Abram • The Revd Dr Peter Anthony • Andrew Archibald • The Revd Paul Armstead • The Revd Simon Atkinson • The Bishop of Fulham • The Bishop of Richborough • The Revd Paul Barrow • Kathy Bentin • Dr Paul Beresford-Hill CBE • The Revd Imogen Black • The Dean of Ely • John Booth • The Revd Toby Boutle • Professor Ian Boxall • The Revd David Brecknell • The Revd Canon Paul Burrows • Edward Cain • The Revd Bruce Carlin • The Revd John Caster
• The Revd Dr John Clark • The Revd Robert Coates • Mariko Coelho • Scott Cooper • The Revd Clinton Crawshaw • The Revd Canon David Crawley • Peter Darling • The Revd John Eldridge • Dr Uzo Erlingsson • Dr Erik Erlingsson • The Revd Canon Stephen Evans • The Revd Robert Farmer • The Revd Canon Robert Fayers • The Revd Adrian Furse • The Revd Dr Stephen Fry • John Furber KC • The Revd Alexander Garner
• The Revd Father Stephen Graham • Jason Groves • The Ven David Gunn-Johnson • The Revd James Hair • The Revd Canon David Herbert • The Revd Alistair Hodkinson • The Revd Justin Hutcherson • Christopher Johnson • The Revd Robin Jones • Dominik Jörg • Malcolm Kemp • The Revd Philip Kennedy • David King • The Revd Dr Tomas Krejci • The Revd Dr Elizabeth Larson • The Very Revd F Q Lawson • The Revd James Mather • Michael McFarland Campbell
To join The 1876 Society, please email: development@ssho.ac.uk
• The Revd Alexander McGregor • Chad Moody • The Revd Grant Naylor • The Revd Stephen Niechcial • The Revd Dr David Nixon • The Revd Giles Orton • Giulia Paoletti • The Revd Graham Lunn & The Parish of St Michael and St Augustine, Beckenham • The Parish of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York, USA • Richard Parker • The Dean of Peterborough • Dr Craig Paterson • The Revd Oliver Petter • Dr Mark Philpott • The Revd Hugh Pryse
• The Revd Major Blair Radford • The Revd Canon Graham Rainford • The Revd Canon Dr Paul Rampton • The Revd Jay Ridley • Alan J Rose • The Revd Gabe Rusk • The Revd Canon Bruce Sharpe • The Revd Canon Brian Simmons • David Soward • The Revd David Stanton • The Revd David Stevenson • Gillian Stroud • Gregory Tucker • Ann Turner • The Revd Canon Carl Turner
• The Revd Canon Nicholas Turner • The Venerable Dirk van Leeuwen • The Revd Michael Vyse • The Revd Gary Waddington • The Revd Alan Walker • The Revd Dr Andrew Walker • The Revd John Warner • The Revd Ben Weitzmann • The Revd Andreas Wenzel • The Revd Richard Woods • Richard Yoder • The Revd Dr Jennifer Zarek • The Archbishop of York • The Bishop of Chichester
1876 Society
GDPR rules prevent us from publishing examination results without the explicit consent of our students. So we congratulate all our students who successfully completed their courses in 2023, and who were awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, the degrees of Master of Studies, Master of Science, Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy. We are very proud of all you have achieved during your time with us.
1876 Society
HAVE YOU JOINED THE 1876 SOCIETY? The 1876 Society is a membership society for alumni, friends and supporters of St Stephen’s House, with the aim of providing a community of stewardship to help support the work and future of the College. Simply by becoming a member you are supporting this aim. You can join yourself, join in memory of someone, or gift someone else membership. Membership starts from just £10 per month. To join, visit www.ssho.ac.uk and click on ‘Support Us’.
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