cranmer-hall

New Appointment: Director of Interim Ministry Training

Tue, 05 May 2026 10:35:41 GMT

The Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould as Director of Interim Ministry Training

Cranmer Hall and Ripon College Cuddesdon are delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould as Director of Interim Ministry Training. This is a new post funded by the Church of England’s Innovation Fund. For the first time, interim change ministers and transition ministers will be able to access nationally-funded training and support for their roles. The post is based at Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, Durham, and will offer training in both the Northern and Southern Provinces of the Church of England, in collaboration with Ripon College Cuddesdon.

Commenting on her appointment, Helen says:

“I am hugely excited to be appointed to this role and to work with two outstanding theological training institutions. I am passionate about Interim Ministry and about enabling others to have the training and support to thrive in these exciting and challenging roles. I would like to pay tribute to IM colleagues, for their faithfulness while their waited for this training; and to CofE senior staff for making this massively important commitment to funding training. It’s a real moment of opportunity to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the church. Jesus was a fantastic Interim Minister and I hope through this resourcing we can all become a more like him too!”

Revd Dr Nick Moore, Warden of Cranmer Hall, adds:

“We are thrilled at Helen’s appointment, she brings a wide experience of interim ministry and a deep spirituality, and is perfectly placed to be an advocate, mentor, and guide for this mode of ministry which is set to become increasingly important for the church. It is wonderful, 10 years after the Church of England made interim ministry possible, to have the prospect of training and support offered nationally. It is exciting to see the national church working with our theological centres of excellence to deliver this.”

Revd Dr Harriet Harris MBE, Principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon, comments:

“We are delighted that the Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould is taking up this post to direct the training of people for Interim Ministry. Helen is ideally-placed to oversee how clergy are supported with the essential forms of awareness, holding of space, and responsiveness to challenge that transitional ministering requires. Cuddesdon is proud to be the southern partner with Cranmer in this enterprise, and we look forward to receiving and equipping clergy for the much-needed work of Interim Ministry.”

Helen will take up post in mid-May, subject to the completion of all requirements. Interim Ministry training will be delivered in person in Northern and Southern hubs, and online, with the first training beginning in autumn 2026.

New Chaplain at St John’s

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:28:26 GMT

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Revd Sarah Heslop as our new Chaplain.

Sarah studied History at the University of Oxford before working as a teacher in London, Leipzig (Germany), and Cambridge. She has been closely involved in church and community life in and around Durham for many years, before training for ordination at Lindisfarne College of Theology. She has spent the past three years serving her curacy in the villages of Byers Green, Croxdale, Kirk Merrington and Tudhoe, all close to Durham.

Sarah, says:

“Having lived locally for many years and having come to know many people connected to St John’s College, and as a DThM (Doctor of Theology and Ministry) student here myself, I know what a special place it is. Serving this wonderful community is a real privilege and one I am deeply excited about. I’m looking forward to getting to know the many people who make up this wonderful community, to walking and worshipping alongside them in the years to come.”

Professor Jolyon Mitchell, Principal, says:

“We are delighted to appoint Revd Sarah Heslop as Chaplain. The role remains central to the life and work of St John’s, and we look forward to working with Sarah as she brings wisdom, care, and a strong sense of vocation to the College, our students, and staff.”

Revd Dr Nick Moore, Warden of Cranmer Hall, adds:

“Sarah brings a combination of energy, enthusiasm, and a deep spirituality. We greatly look forward to her joining the College. As Chaplain she will not only oversee our worshipping life, but also attend to the spiritual needs of all of our students and staff within both John’s Hall and Cranmer Hall.”

Sarah will take up the role on 1 June 2026, subject to the completion of the usual administrative and safeguarding requirements.

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera to be next Lecturer in Mission and Evangelism at Cranmer Hall

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:41:37 GMT

Cranmer Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of Canon Dr Sanjee Perera as Lecturer in Mission & Evangelism. Sanjee is a psychologist and theologian who has spoken and taught widely within and beyond the UK.

Her research interests cover a range of areas across the intersection of psychology, theology, and moral justice. Sanjee formerly served as the Archbishops’ Adviser on Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns and is an honorary lay canon of Liverpool Cathedral. She will take up the role in January 2026, subject to the usual checks and processes.

"Sanjee brings a wealth of experience of the Church of England and is an interdisciplinary researcher of the highest calibre. She impressed us with her passion for the mission of the church, her warm pastoral manner, and her deep theological thinking. We look forward to her contribution to the College, where her responsibilities will range from training first-year students in mission and evangelism to supervising doctoral students and contributing to our ministry of research and writing."

Revd Dr Nick Moore – Warden of Cranmer Hall

“We are delighted to welcome Sanjee to this new role where she is already well known as an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Theology & Religion at Durham. Sanjee brings rich experience of addressing some of the Church of England’s most significant challenges. As a skilled interdisciplinary researcher, we very much look forward to her contribution to Durham’s community of theological learning.”

Revd Canon Prof. Simon Oliver – Van Mildert Professor of Divinity and Head of the Department of Theology & Religion

"I am caught off guard by this opportunity of grace. The invitation to walk alongside those developing in ministry is an extraordinary providence; to share with them a little of my passion, joy and hope for the work ahead of them will be the greatest of privileges. I am looking forward to continuing to build relationships with colleagues in Cranmer and the wider university."

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera – NEW Lecturer in Mission and Evangelism

Thank You for Reading: Theology and Ministry Journal Ceases Publication

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:41:31 GMT

After over a decade of publishing high-quality research on the interface of theological study and ministerial practice, Theology and Ministry has now ceased publication. We would like to thank the many contributors to the journal over the years—including those who have produced original articles, book reviews, those offering anonymous peer review feedback on submissions, and, in particular the three editors of the journal since 2012: Jocelyn Bryan, Nicholas J. Moore, and Samuel Tranter. All back issues of the journal remain available here Home – Theology and Ministry.

Cranmer Hall and St John’s College remain committed to serving the church and the academy through the production of field leading research and training. St John’s is currently home to ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leaders in an Age of Science) an international project seeking to equip the global church to engage confidently with science in ministry. Cranmer Hall houses two research centres: The Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology , a research centre seeking to foster a critical, theological conversation around starting new churches and a Growing Faith Hub , offering sector leading training in Children’s and Youth Ministry, and engaging in research which seeks to transform the church’s engagement with children and young people. Cranmer Hall also hosts Talking Theology podcast.

Jonny Price to be Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry Training at Cranmer Hall

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:12:22 GMT

Cranmer Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of Jonny Price as Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry Training. Jonny is an expert practitioner, having served in youth ministry for over 20 years. He is also a gifted teacher and academic and has a passion for the formation of children’s and youth ministers which has seen him shape and contribute to national initiatives and projects in recent years. He will take up the role in January 2026.

"Jonny impressed us with his warm, calm manner and his deep grasp of the essentials of faithful ministry in this area. As well as being an experienced youth minister, he has fantastic skills in project management and is an emerging researcher. We look forward to his leadership of our children’s and youth ministry development programme for clergy, as well as other aspects of our children’s and youth training and research."

Revd Dr Nick Moore – Warden of Cranmer Hall

“Jonny offers an impressive combination of practical experience, theological depth and formational excellence. He will bring strength and innovation to our provision of children’s and youth ministry training and we are excited about development of our programmes and pathways under his leadership.”

Revd Sarah Strand – Dean of Anglican Formation, and Director of the Growing Faith Learning Hub.

"I am excited and honoured to step into this role. Children’s and Youth Ministry has been at the core of my calling and ministry for twenty years, so to have the opportunity to form and train practitioners and develop training pathways for this important work is a privilege. It feels as though we stand at a significant moment for these ministries in the church, and I am looking forward to seeing what God is inviting us into."

cranmer-hall

New Appointment: Director of Interim Ministry Training

The Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould as Director of Interim Ministry Training

New Chaplain at St John’s

Professor Jolyon Mitchell, Principal, says:

“We are delighted to appoint Revd Sarah Heslop as Chaplain. The role remains central to the life and work of St John’s, and we look forward to working with Sarah as she brings wisdom, care, and a strong sense of vocation to the College, our students, and staff.”

Revd Dr Nick Moore, Warden of Cranmer Hall, adds:

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera to be next Lecturer in Mission and Evangelism at Cranmer Hall

Revd Dr Nick Moore – Warden of Cranmer Hall

Revd Canon Prof. Simon Oliver – Van Mildert Professor of Divinity and Head of the Department of Theology & Religion

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera – NEW Lecturer in Mission and Evangelism

Thank You for Reading: Theology and Ministry Journal Ceases Publication

Jonny Price to be Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry Training at Cranmer Hall

Revd Dr Nick Moore – Warden of Cranmer Hall

Revd Sarah Strand – Dean of Anglican Formation, and Director of the Growing Faith Learning Hub.

Jonny Price – NEW Director of Children’s and Youth Ministry Training