Westcott House Cambridge

Unforgiving? The paradox of forgiveness after trauma - Oxford Brookes University Join us for the annual Multifaith Chaplaincy Lecture, presented by Dr Karen O'Donnell.

Great to see our colleague and Academic Dean, Dr Karen O’Donnell present the Annual Multifaith Chaplaincy Lecture at Oxford Brookes University earlier this month. Exploring trauma, theology, and the paradox of forgiveness, Karen’s lecture is available to watch here: buff.ly/dhB0ZjO

Image: Dr Jenny Leith, Lecturer in Christian Ethics and Tutor for Independent Students, Westcott House. Quote: ‘In the process of becoming ready for the coming of God’s judgement, we discover what it is that is the hoped for promise.’

At tonight’s Community Eucharist, as we anticipated the First Sunday of Advent, Dr Jenny Leith encouraged us to consider whether God’s judgement is to be feared or to be welcomed, and how we are to prepare for it.

Image: Dr Karen O'Donnell, Academic Dean, Westcott House. Quote: ‘This is the mystery of Christ the King, the sovereign we don’t expect, the one that undoes all our expectations.’

As we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King at this week’s All-Age Community Eucharist, our Academic Dean, Karen, encouraged us in her sermon to remember that Christ is the King who confounds our expectations.

Yesterday as a community we held a short prayer vigil in chapel in anticipation of today’s Transgender Day of Remembrance. To those we have lost, we will remember them.

Wonderful to gather for Fed Worship on Monday with friends from across the CTF as we held a joint Choral Evensong co-led with Ridley Hall, & to enjoy fellowshipping together afterwards. The choir were amazing, special thanks to them & all involved in the service.

📷thanks to Charlotte and Edward!

Westcott House is currently recruiting for a Chef de Partie to join their catering team. If you are seeking a rewarding work environment within a welcoming community, check out our website for further info and job description: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/about-us/work-with-us/chef-de-partie/

2/2 As we anticipated Safeguarding Sunday, we were encouraged to consider the following: if everyone is playing a game of Celebrity Traitors, how do we act with authenticity to create healthy church cultures?

Image taken by Keith Mindham of the Rt Revd Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich. Quote: 'Doing what is right, and not wearying of doing what is right, even in the face of significant opposition, is incredibly costly, and yet is the only path of integrity.’

1/2 We felt very blessed tonight to be joined by alumna and Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, the Rt Revd Joanne Grenfell, who preached at our Community Eucharist.

Join Dr Eleni Ponirakis, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House, for this short course in Celtic and Medieval Spirituality which examines the relationships between spirituality, theology, science, literature, art & more in Celtic and medieval thought. Scan QR for info/visit: https://ow.ly/EbQS50XeiPH

Join Dr Eleni Ponirakis, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House, for this short course in Celtic and Medieval Spirituality which examines the relationships between spirituality, theology, science, literature, art & more in Celtic and medieval thought. Scan QR for info/visit: https://ow.ly/EbQS50XeiPH

Image of the chapel bell at Westcott House. Quote by Revd Andrew Hurst, Associate Priest in the benefices of Newnham and Grantchester. 'God is never more close the further he feels away.’

Preaching at our Community Eucharist last night, it was good to welcome the Revd Andrew Hurst. As we gathered to mark Remembrance Sunday, Andrew’s sermon was thoughtful, realistic and full of hope whilst also recognising the painful realities of war.

#RemembranceSunday #Remembrance #LestWeForget

Interested in engaging with Ignatian spirituality for the first time or to deepen your own practice? Led by Dr Sr Gemma Simmonds, Senior Fellow at MBIT, our short course Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian Tradition explores theory, practice & more. Full info: scan QR/visit https://ow.ly/vnEm50XegOU

Image: Revd Jennifer Totney, Director of Contextual Training, Westcott House. Quote: ‘We hold all of this messiness and pain and joy and hope and longing and regret- because everything has been given to him. Nothing is rejected, cast out or driven away. No one is lost.’

At this week’s Community Eucharist as we mark All Souls', Revd Jennifer Totney, explored Jesus’ words in John 6 through the experience of accompanying those who are grieving.

Exploring a vocation to ordained ministry? Why not register a place at our online Open Evening for ordinands to find out more about training, formation & community life at Westcott House.

Scan the QR to book or visit: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

A few more photos from the evening!

📷huge thanks to Ed C, Ian H, Daniel K, Charlotte K & Rachel R!

We were delighted to welcome back four of our alumni earlier this week to celebrate the launch of their collaborate book In the Sacred Pause, and to reflect on how faith, presence, & Christian worship might speak into lives touched by trauma. Full article can be found on our website: buff.ly/aTMzlu0

Image: Revd Rachel Rosborough, Vice Principal, Westcott House. Quote: ‘Read the bible, on your own, quietly, read about it and round it, but also read it aloud, try different voices, think about the setting and the type of literature it is. And then hear it, listen to others reading it, listen to what you have always thought it says, listen to what it actually says, allow it to speak, hear it differently, allow it to raise questions and notice your reaction, even if it shock, or bewilderment, or challenge, or discomfort as well as encouragement, comfort and reassurance. It might just be there that we find life.’

At tonight’s Community Eucharist as we marked ‘Bible Sunday’ our Vice Principal, Revd Rachel Rosborough, explored how we approach the bible and what it is for – how we read and hear it, how we mark and learn from it, and how we digest it so that we discover the life offered by God.

Autumnal leaves covering the lawn of New Court Garden at Westcott House.

New Court garden @westcotthousecam.bsky.social transformed into a carpet of leaves - autumn has arrived!

Image: Dr Julia Snyder, Lecturer in New Testament, Westcott House. Quote: 'The Gospel of Luke brings a word of encouragement to those whose lives are difficult, and a word of warning to those who might be contributing to the suffering of others.'

At our Community Eucharist this week, as we anticipated the 18th Sunday after Trinity, our Lecturer in New Testament, Dr Julia Snyder, invited us to consider God’s concern for justice in her sermon which reflected on the Gospel of Luke (18.1-8).

Discover more about training, formation & community life at Westcott House at our upcoming online Open Evening for ordinands. If you're exploring a vocation to ordained ministry, come join us - we'd love to meet you! Scan QR to book or https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

Image: Revd Dr Julian Gotobed, Director of Practical Theology and Mission, Westcott House. Quote: 'Jeremiah encouraged the exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare of the place they found themselves living. What does it mean for us to do the same today? Seek the common good of where you live with the mind of Christ.'

At the end of a busy induction period, it was a joy to come together for worship at last week’s Community Eucharist. It was also good to hear from our Director of Practical Theology and Mission, Dr Julian Gotobed, who preached from Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7 as we anticipated the 17th Sunday after Trinity.

Poster for the book celebration of In the Sacred Pause, being hosted at Westcott House on 21 October at 7pm.

Join us at 7pm on 21 October for a book celebration event! In the Sacred Pause, published in July, was written by four (very) recent alumni whilst ordinands at Westcott House. Now Deacons & Priests in the CofE, they’ll be returning to talk about the book, the process of putting this together & more.

Photo of Revd Dr Naomi Wormell, Lecturer in New Testament and Tutor for Learning Support, Westcott House Quote: ‘Entering the silent music of God's praise as the Psalms give us words and images that with angels and archangels, and all the powers of heaven, we may find a voice to sing God's praise.’

Today we held our termly Quiet Day. Led in-house by our Lecturer in Old Testament, Revd Dr Naomi Wormell, we read Psalms 148, 67 and 97 together, reflecting on their imagery & language through the use of artistic, active and reading activities to engage with God and capture the sense of the psalms.

Discover more about training, formation for ministry and independent study at Westcott House by joining one of our 2025/26 Open Days or online Open Evenings. We’d love to hear from you!

More info: scan QR below or visit: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

View of Old Court Garden and accommodation blocks at Westcott House.

It’s the weekend & over the next two days Westcott House Cambridge we’ll be welcoming the arrival of our returning and new ordinands & students, partners and families. We're looking forward to re-forming together again as a community as we prepare for the new academic year. Welcome to Westcott!

Westcott House alumni pictured with Revd Canon Dr Vicky Johnson by the Chapel Bell in Old Court Garden,.

2023 & 2024 Leavers' together in the Dining Hall, Westcott House.

Leavers from 2024, photographed in the Common Room, Westcott House.

Alum from 2023 & 2024 pictured in the Common Room at Westcott House, enjoying a tea break during the Curacy Residential.

Delighted to see some of our 2023 & 2024 Leavers’ earlier this week, back for our Curacy Residential. Exploring the theme of The Sacraments and Our Sound, it was wonderful to have them back for a few days. Huge thanks to Dr Vicky Johnson, Dean of Chapel, St John’s, for leading our residential.

2/2 We were particularly grateful to Nicola Vidamour, Director of Reflective Pastoral Supervision at Wesley House who led us in some creative approaches to supervision, opening up helpful conversations about our roles and expectations.

Attachment supervisors pictured together at lunch with staff from Westcott House and Ridley Hall.

Attachment supervisors pictured together at lunch with staff from Westcott House and Ridley Hall.

1/2 As we focus attention to the start of the new academic year, it was great to welcome attachment supervisors for a session run jointly with Ridley Hall last week. We thanked them for their valuable work and explored how we can best work together to provide a fruitful experience for ordinands.

Advert for Christian Spirituality East and West short course offered by Westcott House with QR code to register a place.

Come join us for our short course introducing the traditions of Christian Spirituality East and West. Led by Dr Flo O’Taylor, students will study desert spirituality, monasticism, icons, mysticism, sacramentality, activism and contemplation & much more. To register, scan QR or visit: buff.ly/B1WcNT0

We hope you have enjoyed meeting our Associate Supervisors and learning more about their research areas. If you are interested in exploring a PhD proposal with any of our featured supervisors, or academic team, please do check out our website for more info: buff.ly/Cc6ApfI