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Alumni News Summer 2026

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:24:32 GMT

SUMMER

This newsletter brings together those who have studied here in the past with those who are part of Cranmer today. Through stories, updates, and reflection, it offers a way for alumni to stay connected with Cranmer and with one another, sharing in the ongoing life of the community.

Welcome to the Cranmer Hall Alumni Newsletter

Word from the Warden

I write as we have just sent off our leavers and finished our year.

It is always a bittersweet moment: it is important to remember that sending people out into ministry is why we exist in the first place! Yet it is also tinged with a little sadness as we realize that we will deeply miss these wonderful individuals who have contributed so much to community life in their years with us.

At our leavers' service I preached on Genesis 49-50, where there are opportunities both to look back and to look forward. There is a look back with blessings and farewells at the end of Jacob's life. Then a look forward to what will happen to Joseph's brothers now their father is dead - a temptation to try to control outcomes, which Joseph turns into another look back, a lesson about God's sovereign provision even despite evil human intent. Then another look forward, to God's abundant provision through Joseph's actions in the midst of famine. And finally, a further look forward, when Joseph promises that after his death 'God will surely visit us'. This last promise meets its fulfilment when Zechariah sings in the Benedictus that God 'has visited and redeemed his people' and prophecies that 'the dawn from on high shall visit us'. Whatever beginnings or endings you face in this season, may the prospect of God's abundance and his visitation give you strength and hope.

Revd Emily Bagg

ALUMNI NEWS

I came to Cranmer not really wanting to be a full time student again in my 30s… But I’m SO glad I did! Aside from the fact I had enormous fun, I see what a gift three years of college was in rooting me for the rest of my ministry.

Since leaving in Summer 2023, I’ve been serving my curacy right in the heart of the Lake District, in 4 very rural parishes. The biggest community, at Hawkshead, has a resident population of about 600; the smallest has only 40. Our numbers are swelled over the summer months with visitors, which brings the added challenge that you never quite know who you’re preaching to! The Sunday after I was ordained priest, I presided at Communion for the first time, and was a little disconcerted by the holidaymaker in the front row wearing a clerical collar sighing theatrically…

This is also the land of Beatrix Potter - her home at Hill Top sits in one of our parishes. The absolute low-point of my curacy came when a rabbit hopped out in front of me as I was driving home one night, right outside of Hill Top. I’m sorry to say that I achieved what Mr McGregor could not.

Fortunately, the good experiences have far outweighed any real negatives. I’ve learned so much about the importance of incarnational ministry in communities like these; people want to know ‘their vicar’, even if they never come to church. It’s a privilege, too, to share more fleeting moments of encounter with holidaymakers, and I never cease to be astonished at the deeply personal things people will share in a one-off conversation.

Early on, I learned the hard way the importance of carrying my wellies and a big torch. I’ve only once had to preside in bare feet because I’d got so wet walking through the fields! My curacy is coming to an end over the summer, and I’m really looking forward to the next challenge as I become vicar of 6 churches elsewhere in the Lake District. If you’re in the Lakes, come and say hi!

Justin Lau

ALUMNI NEWS

After graduating from Cranmer Hall in 2022, I moved down to London where I’ve been working for the past 3 years as Worship & Discipleship Year Pastor at All Saints’ Woodford Wells, a charismatic evangelical Anglican church which is part of New Wine.

It’s an honour to lead a contemporary worship team of 50+ volunteers as we cultivate a culture of worshipping in Spirit and Truth, and facilitate encounter with God’s presence. Highlights include: mentoring worship leaders, writing worship songs, filming a theology of worship series.

I also have the privilege of discipling young adults from all over the world on the New Wine Discipleship Year programme. This year we have 15 students in our hub hailing from 9 different countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. It’s a joy not only to teach them theology and equip these future leaders, but also to witness the riches of the global church coming to bless the UK church.

Another ministry ‘side hustle’ has been my Substack, Decolonising My Faith. God called me to share my journey of integrating my faith with my East Asian culture and heritage – part of that process included my dissertation on how the western church can learn from East Asian theologies – and I’ve been blessed with multiple open doors.

Highlights include: joining CTBI’s Racial Justice Sunday writers’ group, podcast interviews (Serve Asia, ACross Culture). I’ve also connected with theological heroes, such as Harvey Kwiyani and Amos Yong, both of whom featured in my dissertation. (Speaking of which, it was nice to hear from a current student that my dissertation kindly received a shoutout in a Theologies of the Majority World module.)

I got married in October 2025 to the wonderful Esther, with the wedding happening in London and a second reception in Singapore. As a Singaporean Chinese missionary kid who grew up in Japan, but who has responded to a missionary call to the UK, I’m excited for what the future holds as I permanently settle and root myself here in this country, and continue to serve as a bridge between the East and the West.

ANDY HOOD

Student Spotlight

My name is Andy Hood, I’m an Anglican ordinand, and I have loved my time here at Cranmer, as has my wife and our three young children (with a fourth born by the time you’re reading this). In fact, I’ve enjoyed Cranmer so much that, rather unusually, I’m planning on being here for 5 years in total! Having completed a BA through the university theology department, I’m coming to the end of the first of three years of PhD study, focusing on Augustine’s sermons and commentaries on the psalms, and looking at his understanding of the person of Christ in that work. Once that’s finished (hopefully!), the plan is to get ordained and begin a curacy in the Summer of 2028.

This past academic year my term-time placement has been working with Nick and others to restart the Cranmer Hall podcast “Talking Theology” – do subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube! My role has involved liaising with guests, and reading a wide range of books and articles from across the discipline of theology and beyond to help Nick and other members of Cranmer staff prepare the questions for each interview. Personal highlights of the year for me have included reading Rt Revd Graham Tomlin’s fascinating biography of Blaise Pascal in preparation for an equally fascinating conversation, and learning from an article by Dr Deborah Davies of Ridley Hall how Pentecostal approaches to truth can help the church in its mission and ministry in a post-truth era. For me, “Talking Theology” is a great example of one of Cranmer’s key strengths – the ability to connect top-tier academic theology with the opportunities and challenges that characterise ministry today.

Staff and Research

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera

This summer Canon Dr Sanjee Perera, our newest member the tutorial staff team, will launch her new book Church of the Empire: The Church of England and Race in Global Perspective published by SCM Press.

The book explores how the Church of England has been entangled with empire and how this continues to shape its oppressive practices. Church of the Empire gathers a diverse and distinguished range of contributors from within and beyond the Church of England including Canon Dr Sanjee Perera (Ed.), Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Prof Anthony Reddie, Revd Dr Evie Vernon, Revd Dr Steven Horne, Revd Sue Butler, Revd Martin Burrell, Dr Harvey Kwiyani, Revd Dr Carla Roland Guzmán, Revd Lauren Banks, Audrey Quay, Revd David Ho Young, Revd Dr Phillip Tovey, Revd Dr Malcolm Brown, Revd Dr Keith Gruneberg and Professor Mike Higton. The book offers some rarely considered perspectives on its multifaceted inheritance from the intersections of empire, race and ethnicity. Chapters focus on Jamaica, Hong Kong, the so-called ‘scramble for Africa’, the USA and Southeast Asia as well as England. They address liturgy, missiology, civic engagement and theological education in considering both the Church’s own life and how it shaped and was shaped by wider society and culture. Together this offers rich theological and historical analysis as well as a focus on the contemporary Church of England and how it might be transformed.

Cranmer hall will host a book launch for Church of the Empire in September, and the book will also be launched in Virginia and New York, in the US later this year.

You can preorder the book now at a 50% discount at Amazon

Generational Theory and research surrounding it can make hackles rise in academic circles.

The broad-brush strokes that come out of generational theory can seem like Barnum statements, which seem to make generalised authoritative statements without any real weight behind them. Yet in ministry circles, particularly around youth ministry, generational language is regularly used to describe who we are working with, the values they hold, and therefore the work that is needed to do to make Christianity ‘relevant’ to them.

This was the context in which I decided to undertake empirical research to explore the attitudes of GenZ (born 1995-2012) to Christianity. This research was done a few years ago, before Gen Alpha (born 2012 onwards) were entering their teenage years, and so at the time was to identify how contemporary young people perceived Christianity.

How did I do it?

I used a semi-longitudinal approach to meet several focus groups multiple times over a six-month period to give rich data regarding their thoughts around Christianity.

What did they think of Christianity?

They were cynical of an institution that was making truth claims about the nature of reality, and felt that the church was only interested in them to prop up its own existence.

At the same time, they could see that Christianity gave meaning, purpose, and comfort to many people who believed, and thought that it generally made those people’s lives better.

What is the ongoing impact of the research?

In my own teaching and practice I use generational theory sparingly, but it has made me take the context that young people are growing up in seriously. For example, GenZ have grown up in a context shaped by austerity with a scarcity mindset about finances. How do we talk about a God’s generosity to these young people without them dismissing us as naïve believers of fairytales? Yet we can’t change what we believe to suit the context. Walking the tightrope of contextualisation is a core skill for anyone working with children and young people, and we need a firm grasp of both ministry context and theological foundation to do this well. This is one of the core things we seek to do through our Children’s and Youth pathway at Cranmer.

Jonny Price

We are delighted to welcome several new colleagues to Cranmer Hall

New Staff Welcome

Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould

Director of Interim Ministry Training

Laura Marley

Learning and Teaching Coordinator

Leaona Clarkson joins as Marketing Officer, helping to share the life of Cranmer Hall, connect with our wider community, and communicate the richness of formation and study

Leaona Clarkson

Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould joins us as Director of Interim Ministry Training, where she will lead and develop Cranmer’s provision for those preparing for interim ministry contexts.

Laura Marley joins as Learning and Teaching Coordinator, supporting the delivery and administration of Cranmer’s academic programmes.

Marketing Officer

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 one research centre: The Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology , a research centre seeking to foster a critical, theological conversation around starting new churches. 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

Alumni News Summer 2026

SUMMER

Welcome to the Cranmer Hall Alumni Newsletter

Word from the Warden

I write as we have just sent off our leavers and finished our year.

Revd Emily Bagg

ALUMNI NEWS

Justin Lau

ALUMNI NEWS

ANDY HOOD

Student Spotlight

Staff and Research

Canon Dr Sanjee Perera

You can preorder the book now at a 50% discount at Amazon

Generational Theory and research surrounding it can make hackles rise in academic circles.

How did I do it?

What did they think of Christianity?

What is the ongoing impact of the research?

Jonny Price

We are delighted to welcome several new colleagues to Cranmer Hall

New Staff Welcome

Revd Helen Gheorghiu Gould

Director of Interim Ministry Training

Laura Marley

Learning and Teaching Coordinator

Leaona Clarkson

Marketing Officer

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