Foreword from the Interim Principal

Elizabeth Crawford

2022 saw women in leadership at all levels at Regent’s: in the JCR President, MCR President, ministerial students’ representative and the Interim Principal. We were delighted that two Regent’s women represented the University in the two best known sports events, the annual blue on blue clash of Oxford and Cambridge i.e., in the Varsity Match at Twickenham (Josie Osborne) and in the Boat Race on the Thames (Gabrielle Smith), both on the first weekend of April. That weekend also saw our first Gaudy for several years, and the Helwys Hall was filled with people, happily catching up on career and family news and hearing about the latest at Regent’s.

The periodic Baptist Colleges Peer Review of ministerial formation was carried out at the College in the spring, where a group of senior ministers from other institutions spent two days observing and interviewing ministerial students, staff, and support staff. The closing statement of the report stated that they were ‘impressed by the very high quality of the ministerial programme at Regent’s Park College and recognise teaching, learning and formation which can be trusted by both ministerial students and the wider Baptist family. Furthermore, we have recognised the clear contribution of Baptist identity within the broader scope of the college community and university life and trust the new chapter for the college’s ministerial formation programme will grow from strength to strength’.

The annual Recognition Dinner finally returned to its intended form in May. Those nominated for recognition, by the JCR and MCR, included students who had been capped for various University teams, people who had directed and produced plays, participated in opera, written for the student press, or held office in various University societies and clubs. The reach of students at Regent’s within the wider University is both wide and impressive. Our alumna, Hazel Barkworth, was the guest of honour and spoke entertainingly and movingly about her time at Regent’s.

During the early summer, the Regent’s community was heartened and excited at the announcement of the appointment of Sir Malcolm Evans as the Principal-Elect and started to look to the future and his starting in January 2023.

Early in Trinity Term, the news broke that St Benet’s Hall was closing, although there had been some indication earlier in the year that this may happen. The University approached Regent’s, amongst others, to discuss the possibility of some of the students from St Benet’s migrating to Regent’s and so, at the start of Michaelmas Term, we welcomed 28 new members of Regent’s, as well as our usual cohort of Freshers. The JCR organised very successful tailored welcome events for each group. We have been acutely aware of the uncertainty and disruption that this caused the St Benet’s students concerned and are doing our utmost to enfold them into our community.

We have also welcomed several new members of staff including Dr Pieter Francois, lecturer in Human Sciences, Reverend Dr Andrew Adams, lecturer in theology, Reverend Dr Andy Goodliff, leading the online course in Baptist History, Reverend Dr Tim Judson, Lecturer in ministerial formation, Dr Timothy Smith, and Dr Sara de Martin, both lecturers in classics, Mihnea Cuibus, lecturer in politics, Gwen Dupré, Junior Dean, Douglas Idiahi, Night Porter, Declan Foster, Music Scholar, Neria Guterres Andrade, Housekeeping Assistant, Harvey Langley, Development Office, Sally Jones, Academic Administrator and Katharine Wiggell, Access & Outreach Officer.

At a unique Regent’s occasion, in October, we marked the death of Emmanuelle with a reflection on her life, followed by the burial of her ashes in the quad, in the very spot that Manny had favoured most for her daily cucumber and lettuce feast. Her memory lives on in the stained-glass window in the Chapel and in the minds of many alumni. A new resident tortoise will move in, after this hibernation season, and training for the Tortoise Challenge 2023 will begin in earnest.

Regent’s Park was very proud to offer post-lecture hospitality after this year’s annual Sam Sharpe Lecture. This, the tenth anniversary lecture and held in Oxford, was organised by the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s Sam Sharpe Project and formed part of the University’s Black History month series. The lecturer was Professor Kehinde Andrews, who challenged his audience and provoked post-lecture discussions that went on well into the following weeks.

My stay as Interim Principal has lasted longer than anyone had planned but has given me another opportunity to serve Regent’s Park and to realise afresh what a special place it is, even in a city of special places, and how lucky I have been to be associated with the College for this period.