New Publication

Biblical studies. Sarah Parkhouse has published "Mary and/or Mary: The Changing Traditions of the Marys at the Cross and the Tomb in Early Christian and Late Antique Gospel Retellings" in Narratives of Jesus's Passion and Resurrection between the Second and the Seventh Centuries, edited by Tobias Nicklas and Konrad Schwarz (Mohr Siebeck, 2025) pp.169–93. Further information.

Editorial Board Appointment

Biblical studies. Peter Oakes will be joining the editorial board for the Journal of Theological Studies. Further information.

Trafford Faith Action Network Gathering

Social responsibility. On 25 February, in her capacity as Community Cohesion Lead for Trafford, Eve Parker led a gathering of the Trafford Faith Action Network that gave focus to the best start for children and young people. The event included representatives from various faith communities across Greater Manchester, as well teachers, community police officers, and youth groups, it gave focus to addressing hate crime, mental health, education and family support, and critically centred the voices of children and young people in helping to shape the agenda.

ArtWay Interview

Religion and arts. An interview with Siobhán Jolley, Ben Quash (KCL) and Roberta Ahmanson discussing the importance of art and religion has been published on ArtWay. Read it here.

New Book Publication

Religion and the arts. Samuel O'Connor Perks has published Off-Modern Catholic Aesthetics: Rethinking the Role of Religion in Twentieth-Century Art and Architecture in the series 'Studies in Religion and the Arts' with Brill. Further information.

Postgraduate Research Officer Appointment

Students Union elections. Religions & Theology PhD candidate Rachel Miller has been elected as Postgraduate Research Officer in the 2025/2026 Lead MCR elections. Every year, University of Manchester students vote for the 8 Executive Officers they want to represent them. This team shapes what university experience looks like and campaigns on the issues most important to students. As Postgraduate Research Officer, Rachel will represent the voice of PGRs and hope to build a thriving PGR community. More information can be found here.

New Book Publication

Islamic studies. Tom Woerner-Powell has published his new book Pacifism and Nonviolence in Contemporary Islamic Philosophy with Cambridge University Press. Further information.

Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project, Contributor

Religion and science. Daniel Langton discussed Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' view of Darwinism as an invited member of the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project (ATOP) at Oxford, funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, which explores the question of how the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and the evolutionary sciences meet. 19 March 2025. Further information.

Keynote at Church of England Conference

Theology. On 13 March, Eve Parker was the keynote speaker at the Church of England’s conference for theological education institutes on ‘Classism’. Eve’s paper entitled ‘The Working-Class and the Future of Theological Education’ called on the church to give focus to class consciousness in and through theological education. The talk built on the research published in her book Trust in Theological Education: Deconstructing Trustworthiness for a Pedagogy of Liberation (SCM, 2022), and the conference was part of the CofEs strategy for encouraging the ministry of people from working-class backgrounds.

Religion & the Arts Conversation Video

Religion and arts. Siobhán Jolley's "Unexpected View" video with Jessie Jones is now online. Unexpected views are conversations between curators and some of the most important cultural practitioners of today. Discussions focus on a selected masterpiece from the National Gallery Collection, exploring its relevance to the artist’s work, or more broadly to current social and cultural issues. By allowing for new discussions of old works, the series aims for critical, counter-intuitive and joyful approaches to our collection, which reflect the breadth of contemporary artistic practice. In this film the artist and educator Jesse Jones talks to Siobhán about why she is drawn to Savoldo's 'Mary Magdalene' and why, given her love of film and cinema, it strikes her as a modern image. Watch it here.

New Publication

Biblical studies. CBS HRF Stephen C. Barton has published ‘Christ and Creation in the Synoptic Gospels’, in Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 47/3 (2025), 355-375. Further information.

Public Talk

Biblical studies. PhD candidate Lev Eakins gave a talk on his thesis topic "The Gospel of Mark: Earlier Than We Thought" at Providence Church New Mills on 12th March. Further information.

Book Launch

Event. To celebrate the publication of two fabulous new books by department members, Sin and the Vulnerability of Embodied Life: Towards a Catholic Theology of Social Sin by Charlotte Bray and Reimaging the Magdalene: Feminism, Art, and the Counter-Reformation by Siobhán Jolley, join us in Kro Bar on 27th March from 6pm. Any questions? Feel free to email Siobhán or Charlotte in advance.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. James Crossley (CenSAMM/University of Cambridge) on "Meeting Old Quests Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus among British Dissenters, Radicals, and the Working Class, 1790-1850". 27th March, 4pm, University Place 5.205 and online. For further information and Zoom link, please email Lynne Potts.

New Publications

Biblical studies. George Brooke and Holly Morse both have chapters in Understanding the Hebrew Bible: Essays by Members of the Society for Old Testament Study, edited by John Barton and published with Oxford University Press. George has written "Biblical Canons" and Holly has co-authored "Reception of the Hebrew Bible in Music, Visual Art, Literature, Theatre, and Film". Further information.

Spotlight on Adam North, alumnus & PhD Success

Academic success. A massive congratulations to Adam North who has recently completed a PhD. His thesis title was “The Human Body as Object and Performance. Socio-Political Critique of Structural Racism Through Bodily Performance”, which was supervised by Michael Hoelzl and Alexander Samely and examined by Andrew Boakye and Judith Gruber. Adam also studied for a BA in Theology, Philosophy and Ethics (2020) and a MA in Religions and Theology (2021) with us at Manchester. Reflecting on his academic journey so far, Adam tells us: "Manchester has been an incredible place to study. Staff in R&T and throughout SALC have been amazing mentors in my academic career and I have learnt a lot from them. I have thoroughly enjoyed my studies, and I attribute this partly to being given the freedom to pursue my research interests. From early on in my UG degree I was encouraged to investigate my interests, and this was pivotal for developing my desire to inquire into the questions that really interested me. I’ve become obsessed with the importance of the body as a means of communicating and performing the truth and this has been the driving force behind my research. I have also had a great experience teaching students across SALC and R&T who show so much promise and have been a pleasure to teach. My hope is that I can inspire some students to find their research interests, just as I was inspired by the staff who have taught me at UoM. If any students want advice on pursuing an academic career or their work then please get in touch - I will always be available, even if I am not based in Manchester. What's next for me? I intend to continue my academic path, and I am currently applying for postdoctoral fellowships. I want to develop a project focusing on how populist politicians utilise humour to appeal to voters which is a continuation of my interest in truth-telling and performativity."

National Student Survey (NSS)

Help your department! The National Student Survey is completed by final-year undergraduates at universities across the UK. It's open now and will run until 30 April 2025. Share your views on university life and we’ll add £2 to charity, and you’ll also have a chance to enter a prize draw. Universities and students' unions use student feedback to see how we can keep delivering high quality teaching, and future students can see the results to help them make degree choices. Please take the survey!

Royal Society of Edinburgh Collaboration Award

Biblical studies. Sarah Parkhouse is part of a team of scholars from Australia, Denmark, England, Scotland, and Wales that have been awarded a Royal Society of Edinburgh Collaboration Grant for the project "Crafting Lives of Jesus: Ancient and Modern Retellings" with  Helen Bond (Edinburgh) as PI. Further information.

International Paper

Science and Religion. Scott Midson gave an online talk on 24 Feb as part of a seminar series, ‘Théologie et technique’, organised by Collège des Bernardins, Paris. Scott's talk was on love and lovotics (love + robotics). Further information.

From the Archive... Podcast, 50 Jewish Objects performance

Jewish Voices: Songs from the collections. Stefania Silvestri presented her work on the 50 Jewish Objects project at the John Rylands Library this was followed by a performance by the Menorah Synagogue Choir directed by Ruti Worrall on 7 Nov 2019. Further information.

Peake Lecture, NTC

Biblical studies. The Peake Lecture will be given at the Nazarene Theological College on Saturday 22 March by HRF Loveday Alexander and Emeritus Professor Philip Alexander. The title is "Sacrifice and Salvation: Reading Hebrews Today", and the event is scheduled to run from 9.30am-4.00pm. Drinks provided, but bring your own lunch. Register here.

Trustee Appointment

Christian studies. Siobhán Jolley has joined the board of Art+Christianity as a trustee. Further information.