Civic Service Sermon, Manchester Cathedral

Christian studies. Last month, Peter Scott gave the sermon at the Civic Service at Manchester Cathedral. An annual event, the Civic Service provides an opportunity to welcome the new Lord Mayor, to reflect on Manchester’s community and civic life, and to pray for the common good of the city. Representatives from Manchester’s religious traditions were present at the service to greet the new Lord Mayor, Councillor Shaukat Ali.

Research Presentation

Biblical studies. Siobhán Jolley is presenting at this year’s meeting of the Theology and the Visual Arts project at King's College London 6-9th July, on "A Creative Dialectic: Engaging Visual Art and Biblical Text in Pursuit of New Meaning Making." Further information.

Graduate Outcomes Survey

Employability. Did you finish your University of Manchester degree between 1 February-30 April 2025? You are invited to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey. It’s a quick 10-minute check-in to see where your career has taken you 15 months post-university. Your feedback is essential for helping us support the next generation of students and improving the graduate landscape for everyone. The survey is open until 31 August 2026.

New Publication

Early Christianity. Sarah Parkhouse has published 'Fatal Charades and the Christian Martyrological Imagination' in Classical Antiquity 45.1 (2026): 218–241. Further information.

New Postdoctoral Appointment

Lincoln Theological Institute. The Department is delighted to announce that Dr Chrissie Thwaites has been appointed as the new postdoctoral researcher at the Lincoln Theological Institute, from 1 September 2026. Chrissie joins us from the University of Leeds, where she completed her PhD in 2025. Her research project, “Post-Institutional Religion: Informal Authority, Belonging and Religious Formation in Contemporary Christian Life”, will investigate how authority, belonging and religious formation are being reconfigured outside traditional institutional structures. The two-year project is funded by the LTI trustees and continues the long-standing and fruitful relationship between the Institute’s trustees and the Department of Religions and Theology.

Celebrating Sustainability Impact Ratings

Sustainability goals. The University of Manchester has been ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings. This means we’re leading globally for our contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Ranking first for: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities & Communities; Responsible Consumption & Production; Life Below Water; and Life on Land. We’re also the only university to feature in the global top ten every year since the rankings began. Further information.

Spotlight: Alumni Profile

Careers. Ilaria Di Vincenzo graduated with a degree in Religions, Theology and Ethics and now works as a Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement Manager at Conversations Over Borders. Ilaria writes: "My degree really helped me to work with people from a wide range of countries, cultures, religions, and language backgrounds, which really is at the heart of what I do now. By choosing modules on different faiths and traditions, I built a deeper cultural awareness that has helped me approach my work with care, sensitivity, and respect." Read about their journey here.

PhD Success

Biblical studies. Congratulations to Dr Lev Eakins who has successfully completed his PhD. The thesis is titled 'Reassessing the Date and Provenance of the Gospel of Mark' and was supervised by Todd Klutz and Sarah Parkhouse and examined by Andy Boakye and James Crossley (Cambridge).

Lunchtime Talk and Book Signing

Christian studies. On 27th July, Siobhán Jolley will give a National Gallery lunchtime lecture followed by a book signing to celebrate the launch of her newly published book Saints. Further information.

Conference Paper

Jewish Studies. The annual conference of the British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies takes place from 13–15 July at Birkbeck. Katja Stuerzenhofecker will deliver a paper entitled ‘The dislocation of place-based ritual community’. 

Collaborative Writing Workshop

Biblical studies. On 22–24th June, Sarah Parkhouse attended a writing workshop at the University of Copenhagen to develop a co-written book on biographies of Jesus (under contract with Bloomsbury) as part of a Royal Society of Edinburgh collaboration grant.

Research Presentation

Biblical studies. On 28th May, Siobhán Jolley presented "A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Traction: Rethinking “Holy Family” with Early Modern Magdalenes" at a National Gallery symposium about family in the visual arts. Further information.

Professional Development Session

Teaching development. In collaboration with the University of Manchester and validation partner Nazarene Theological College, our validation partner Cliff College held an event on 24th June on AI and thinking about its practical and ethical use amongst faculty and students. Pete Phillips offered a presentation on using digital theology to help think critically and creatively about the use of AI in teaching and learning in theology and religious studies.