Manchester Wesley Research Centre Annual Lecture

Methodist Studies. Please join our validation partner event: the  Manchester Wesley Research Centre annual lecture given by Priscilla Pope-Levison, Research Professor of Practical Theology, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Her lecture is titled “The Emergence, Growth, and Decline of the International Methodist Deaconess Movement.” Watch her speak about the lecture here. 16th June, 5pm, Nazarene Theological College, in person and online. Register here.

Graduate Careers Week: 15-19 June

Preparing for life after uni? Explore opportunities and plan your next steps at Graduate Careers Week, starting Monday 15 June. With events helping you find graduate jobs, figuring out finances after uni, and the Graduate Careers Fair on Thursday 18 June.

Spotlight: Alumni Profile

Careers. Chloe McDowell graduated with a BA in Comparative Religion and Social Anthropology and now works as a Junior Policy Officer at Re-Imagine Europa. Read about her journey here.

Research Presentation

Jewish Studies. Katja Stuerzenhofecker is delivering the Religious Studies Seminar in the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge, on 2 June 2026. The paper is entitled ‘Traditional prayers, returning voices: Orthodox Jewish women and girls’ singing in communal prayer’. The research is part of the project ‘British Ritual Innovation under Covid-19’.

International Postgraduate Success

Student news. Congratulations to Penny Bunyan, 3rd year BA student, who has been offered a scholarship for the University of Groningen’s two-year Erasmus Masters programme, Religious Diversity in a Globalised World. As part of the programme, students  spend time studying in the Netherlands, as well as Portugal or Spain. Penny says: "This is an exciting opportunity to study across multiple universities and gain a diverse attitude toward the study of religion. I have been awarded a tuition fee waiver as part of the excellent candidates for the upcoming cohort, which I am very grateful for."

Teaching Activities

Teaching trips. Within our modules this year, off-campus activities and trips have included: Katja Stuerzenhofecker taking students to engage with lived religious practices in the Jewish Museum for the Introduction to the Study of Religions and Theology (RELT10311) and to Rylands Hebraica Collections for Interpreting Religion (RELT20572). The intermediate Greek (RELT 20152) studied ancient New Testament manuscripts in the Rylands Bible room with Sarah Parkhouse, and Siobhán Jolley discussed religious painting and sculpture in Manchester Art Gallery to students (pictured) taking Bible in Ancient Contexts and Current Debates (RELT71002).

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George Brooke has published “A Response and Some Ways Forward,” The (Con)textual Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls: Proceedings of the Seventeenth International Orion Symposium, February 28–March 3, 2022. Published in Honor of Esther G. Chazon (ed. R.A. Clements, M.B. Johnson, N. Mizrahi, and M. Segal; STDJ 157; Leiden: Brill, 2026), 375-381. Further information.

New Publication

Pauline Studies. Daniel R. Langton, "Paul" in Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations Online, edited by Homolka, Kampling, Levine, Markschies, Schäfer and Thurner (Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2026), 10pp. ISSN 2569-3530. "Both historically and theologically, a case can be made that Paul continues to be the single most controversial and influential figure for Jewish-Christian relations." Further information.

New Publication

Theology. Peter Scott’s A Theology of Postnatural Right (2019) has been published in Korean by Daejanggan Publishing. Warm thanks to Seoyoung Kim, an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department, who undertook the translation work. Dr Kim has recently been appointed Lecturer in Applied Theology and Ministry Placements Programme Lead at Belfast School of Theology.

Bible Critical Theory and Reception Seminar

Biblical studies. The 2026 Bible Critical Theory and Reception Seminar will be hosted by Siobhán Jolley at the University of Manchester, 2nd-3rd June. Papers include work by our own Holly Morse, Siobhán Jolley, and Rachel Miller, as well as visiting scholars on topics such as Italian fascist cinema, the problem of Neil Gaiman, and the Bible and the English revolution. Email Siobhán for further information.

Conference Paper

Biblical studies. Honorary research fellow Mary Mills will give a paper at the international conference of the Society for Religion Literature and Culture to be held in Stirling, September 10-13, 2026. The Biblical studies unit focuses on Apocalypse this year and Mary's paper is Affective Entanglements: Land City and People in Isaiah 24-7. Further information.

Career Spotlight: Museum/Gallery Curator

For students. Interested in history, culture, and sharing knowledge with others? Museum and gallery curators manage collections, develop exhibitions, and help make artefacts and stories accessible to the public. Through your RELT degree, you build valuable skills by researching historical and cultural contexts, analysing sources and interpretations, and presenting complex ideas in an engaging way, all of which are highly relevant in this field. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

International Conference Papers

Biblical studies. Siobhán Jolley and Holly Morse are delivering papers at 'The Light of the Word: Exploring Stained Glass and the Bible', Trinity College Dublin, 14–16 May 2026. Siobhán will speak on 'Through a Glass, Clearly: The Penitent Medium and Cazalet’s Mirfield Magdalenes' and Holly on 'Ways of Seeing the Bible Through Stained Glass'. Further information.

Public Talk

Religious & Science. Scott Midson is one of six speakers at 'The Love Lectures' event, May 18th, 7-10.30pm, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester. Scott with be talking about AI and companionship. Further information. As the bio says: In a world loud with hate, love louder.

New Publication

Jewish Studies. Honorary research fellow Helen R. Jacobus has published “calendars, Jewish.” In Oxford Classical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2026. Further information.

Graduate Career Support

Employability. Did you know that the University Careers Service is available to you for two years after graduation? Find out more here.  On Thursday, 18 June there will be a dedicated careers fair for upcoming graduates to meet employers and explore opportunities across a range of sectors. 

Church on Wheels Interview

Religion and politics. On 21st April 2026, Michael Hoelzl was interviewed by Bishop Mick Fleming of the Church on Wheels on the topic: Religion and Politics. See the filmed interview here.

Manchester Universities Scriptorium

For PG students. Trinity Forum Europe have just launched a new scriptorium for postgraduate students at the Manchester Universities. A scriptorium is a post-graduate student community that gathers for structured days of study and writing. Inspired by the monastic practice of a "liturgy of hours" the days comprise periods of personal research and writing interspersed with communal lunch and refreshments, Christian readings, reflection and prayer. Students of all faiths and none are welcome. For further information contact Courtney Owen.

Inaugural Lecture, Medieval History

Christian Studies. Stephen Mossman (History) will deliver his Inaugural Lecture, 'Spirituality and a Military Order: God’s House in Medieval Strasbourg', Wednesday 6 May, 6.30-8pm, Samuel Alexander Building, Room A7. Book here.

Manchester Graduate Talent 2026 Programme

Employability. Manchester Graduate Talent (MGT) 2026 programme is open. Looking for a graduate job in Manchester? Explore roles through Manchester Graduate Talent (MGT) - open for 2025 and upcoming 2026 UoM graduates! New roles added regularly. Check it out here.

Religions and Theology PGR Study Day

For PGR students. You are invited to the annual Religions and Theology PGR Study Day event on Monday, 15th June 2026 at the University of Manchester. The event will be hosted at the University in collaboration with our validation partners Cliff College and Nazarene Theological College, in hybrid format, 10am-3.15pm. Eve Parker is coordinating the event and Holly Morse will offer a workshop, with Stephen Wright (NTC), on creative methodologies. There will be two keynotes and other workshops. Sign up here.

Coptic Collection Encounter

Coptic studies. As part of the 'Coptic in Manchester' project, the first collection encounter event where you can see some of the manuscripts written in Coptic, a late Egyptian language, housed at the John Rylands. 1-3pm, Saturday 30th May, John Rylands Library. All welcome.

New Publication

Hebrew and Arabic studies. Peter Pormann (Classics) and William Smith have published "The Alexandrian Summary of Galen’s Sects for Beginner in Hebrew Translation" in Intellectual History of the Islamicate World. Further information.

New Publication

Methodist studies. Stephen Wright (NTC) has published "'Widest Extremes to Join': Christ Beyond Paradox in the Hymns of Charles Wesley," Pro Ecclesia (Feb 2026). Further information

Greater Manchester Policy Report

Social responsibility. Wren Radford has collaborated with Policy@Manchester to create a research report 'The Embodied Everyday: Ethical approaches to including lived experience in policymaking’. The report, based in Wren’s research with communities in Glasgow and Greater Manchester, highlights key practical, ethical, and creative elements of engaging with people’s lived experiences. You can read more from the Policy@Manchester site, and you can read the report here. A short blurb of the report: "Sharing and engaging with people’s lived experiences can be powerful and impactful, but it can also reinforce the issues of unequal power and exclusion. To ensure that the research process and its outputs are as equitable as possible, this report outlines several steps policymakers can take to address these challenges."

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 11th May: 'Coptic Texts, Magic and Linguistics'. In honour of recently retired Todd Klutz, we invite you to a special Ehrhardt featuring three short papers by Todd's previous students: Kim Fowler (University of Groningen), Fred Tappenden (University of Alberta), and Sylvia Billington (current MA student), followed by a response by Dr Klutz himself. 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Sharing Thanks and Good News

Student news. Third year R&T student Niamh Hardman would like to extend a thank you for all the support she has been shown by the department as her fiancée Chloé was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Thankfully Chloé is now in remission after an intensive chemotherapy regime and is recovering well. Chloé and Niamh raised money for Manchester Beat Blood Cancer Together and celebrated with some of the staff at MRI. Hodgkin's Lymphoma primarily affects young adults and catching it early is so important. Please familiarise yourself with further information.

Keynote Address

Practical theology. The British & Irish Association for Practical Theology 2026 conference 'Power and the Common Good' features a keynote from recent PhD graduate Raj Patta who will offer a decolonial theological interrogation of the common good that is rooted in practice and draws on his work in Dalit public theology. Further information.

Project Website Launch

Digital humanities. The website for the UKRI-funded 'Coptic in Manchester: Connecting Manuscripts and Communities' project led by Sarah Parkhouse (PI) has been launched. Check it out here.

New Publication

Methodist studies. Tina Woof (PhD Candidate at NTC) has published "Phoebe Palmer: Holiness as Kenotic Foundation for Proto-Feminist Advocacy," Wesley and Methodist Studies 18 (2026): 54–78. Further information.

SALC student survey on module choice

Student consultation. Frances Connolly (Student Rep for School of Arts, Languages and Cultures) has prepared this 5 minute questionnaire. SALC is reviewing how module options are organised and wants student input on module choice. The survey seeks to understand how much choice students want and what factors (e.g. variety, flexibility, planning certainty) you value when selecting modules. Responses will guide departmental decisions on balancing the number of options with practical constraints, ensuring student priorities are considered in programme restructuring. Further information.

 

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.

Study Abroad Success

Student news. Congratulations to first-year Philosophy & Religion student Aria Ahmedi who has been accepted to the study abroad programme and will spend a semester next year at Arizona State University. Aria says: 'I'm super excited to experience studying Religion and Theology in a completely new context, and to see how different perspectives shape the way these ideas are understood and discussed. Apart from academics, I'm most looking forward to the independence and personal growth that comes with living abroad - as well as stepping outside my comfort zone and building new friendships!'

New Publication

Biblical studies. Samuel Hildebrandt (NTC) has published "Ein Text, viele Stimmen: Die Polyphonie des 109. Psalm in liturgischer Perspektive." Pages 215–226 in Dem Leiden Ausdruck Verleihen. Biblische und Liturgiewissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf Klagetexte. Mirwach: Jüdische und Christliche Traditionen in Gegenwärtigen Kontexten 4. Edited by A. Marschall and K. Menzel. Ergon, 2026. Further information.

Religion & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology. 20th April: Susannah Cornwall (Exeter) will present "Structural Sin and the Death of Institutions" in the R&T departmental seminar. 3–5pm University Place 5.209 and online. Email Siobhán Jolley for further information. 

Prize-Winning Conference Paper

Religion and sport. Congratulations to recent PhD graduate Adam North who has been awarded best overall paper for "The Ethical Way of the Warrior: Can Traditional Martial Arts Offer an Ethical Template for Modern Athletes?" at the International Sport & Discrimination Conference in Dublin, March 2026.

Seminar Presentation

Christian studies. Peter Scott read a paper titled “Christian Environmentalism: A Sacramental Ministry of Grace?” to the research seminar at Nazarene Theological College in March 2026. The paper discussed some of the findings of the AHRC-funded project, “Religion, Theology and Climate Change” (2022-25).

New Book Publication

Biblical studies. Our friends at our partner institution, Nazarene Theological College, Svetlana Khobnya and Kent Brower, have published a new book The Gospels (Foundry Press, 2026). Further information.