International Exhibition

Biblical studies. Centre for Biblical Studies member and Rylands curator, Jeremy Penner, has launched a major immersive exhibition in Austin, Texas that brings to life the voices of a multilingual, multicultural society from Greco-Roman Egypt. One key item on showcase is the world’s earliest known New Testament fragment – the St. John fragment – on view in North America for the first time, alongside rare papyri and artifacts from Greco-Roman Egypt usually housed at the Rylands. The exhibition will run in Texas April 11–August 2, 2026 and come to Manchester later this year. Further information.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Sarah Parkhouse has published 'The Limits of the Dialogue Gospel Genre: Recategorizing the Gospel of Thomas', Early Christianity 17 (2026): 31-47. Further information.

Student Summer Ball

For students. Celebrate the end of the academic year at the 2026 Liberal Arts and Religions & Theology Summer Ball! Saturday, 2nd May, 6:30pm - 12am, King Street Townhouse, 10 Booth Street, M2 4AW.  Dress Code: Black Tie. All students from both courses and any year group welcome, plus one available when purchasing tickets. Buy your tickets here.

New Publication

Jewish studies. Ion Popa, Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Jewish Studies, has published “A Father and His Sons: Wilhelm Filderman’s Efforts to Shelter His Children during the Holocaust,” Revista de Istorie a Evreilor din România (The History Journal of the Jews in Romania), no. 6-7 (22-23) (2025), pp. 325-342. Further information.

BBC News

Jewish Studies. A long-form BBC article on the rise of antisemitism in the UK, including comments from a former student of the department, Rabbi Daniel Walker of Heaton Park Synagogue. 20 April 2026. Further information.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Andrew Boakye has published “The Ethics of Resurrection: The Christ Event and Ethical Praxis in the Pauline Epistles” in New Testament Ethics: Hermeneutics, Texts, and Practice, edited by Nicholas J. Moore, Cheryl Hunt and Timothy J. Murray (Eerdmans, 2026). Further information.

Public Talk

Biblical studies. PhD student Lev Eakins delivered a 'Tuesday Talk' to the Holy Name Chaplaincy on the 24th March, concerning a fresh interpretation of Atonement Theory he coined the 'Agape Atonement Theory. This interpretation was developed out of part of his PhD research where he noticed some literary features in Mark's gospel indicated Mark believed the atonement agency of the Jerusalem Temple had transferred into the body of Jesus. Further information.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Honorary research fellow Walter Houston has published 'Folly at Bethel: Amos on Religion', pp. 177-94 in Religion in Ancient Israel: Essays in Honour of John Day, edited by Katherine Southwood, Stuart Weeks, and H.G.M. Williamson (LHBOTS 756; London: T&T Clark, 2026). In an earlier form, it was a paper read to the Ehrhardt Seminar. Further information.

Conference Papers

Wesleyan studies. Colleagues at Nazarene Theological College have given papers at the annual meeting of the Wesley Theological Society (WTS) in Seattle in March: Jacob Lett, "Christological and Creaturely Perfection: A Dramatic Retrieval of Maximus the Confessor" and Caleb Daniels (PhD Candidate), "Discipling the Reader: The Ethiopian Eunuch as the Implied Reader of Acts". Further information.

Staff News

Coptic studies. A warm welcome to Dr Ibrahim Saweros who joins us from the University of Sohag to work as a Research Associate on the 'Coptic in Manchester: Connecting Manuscripts and Communities' project. Ibrahim will mainly be based at the Rylands, working on the Coptic collections.

Career Spotlight: Management Consultant

For students. Enjoy solving problems and thinking strategically? Management consultants help organisations improve their performance by analysing challenges, identifying solutions, and advising on business strategy. Through your RELT degree, you develop these skills by evaluating complex ideas, constructing well-reasoned arguments, and interpreting different perspectives, all of which are highly valued in consulting. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 27th April: Holly Morse & Siobhán Jolley "Explorations in the Garden of Eve", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

New Book Publication

Religion and climate. Peter Scott, Celia Deane-Drummond, Gemma Edwards and Finlay Malcolm have published Changing Climate, Changing Religion with Routledge (April 2026). This is one of the research outcomes of the AHRC-funded project, “Religion, Theology and Climate Change”. Further information.