Westcott House Cambridge

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

Photo of Dr Florence O'Taylor, Associate Supervisor and Associate Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Westcott House. Text: 'Westcott has a great compliment of staff with a wide range of expertise. I wanted to be part of community that offers excellent postgraduate supervision. I’m looking forward to working with potential PhD students interested in World Christianity, Ecumenism, missiology and intercultural studies.'

Our final Associate Supervisor intro is Dr Florence O’Taylor, Associate Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Westcott & William Leech Post-Doc Research Fellow, St John’s College, Durham University. Flo’s research specialises in Political Theology, Simone Weil & Addiction Theology: buff.ly/dA9YkUD

Photo of Dr David Muir, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: ‘Westcott House has a long history and tradition of scholarship and service. I look forward to my role as Associate Supervisor, assisting and supporting students to reach their full potential and to enjoy their studies. As a former head of Whitelands College, University of Roehampton, and an external examiner for Durham University and other institutions, as well as active involvement in church leadership for over thirty years, I bring a wealth of experience to enrich the student experience and the life of the college. I’m excited to be joining an academic community where there will be mutual flourishing.'

This week brings the two final Associate Supervisor intros in our series. First is Dr David Muir whose research interests include Public & Political Theology, Black Theology and African & Caribbean Churches, Nietzsche & Existentialism. More info on David's other research areas in bio buff.ly/3orXid1

Photo of Revd Dr Benjamin Aldous, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'Westcott has a great compliment of staff with a wide range of expertise. I wanted to be part of community that offers excellent postgraduate supervision. I’m looking forward to working with potential PhD students interested in World Christianity, Ecumenism, missiology and intercultural studies.'

Our next Associate Supervisor introduction this week is Revd Dr Benjamin Aldous, Principal Officer for Mission and Evangelism at Church Together in England (CTE). Ben’s areas of research include mission, ecumenism, Asian and intercultural theologies, amongst others:
buff.ly/vXPwXsc

Text: Photo of Dr Rostislav Tkachenko, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I am excited to join Westcott’s Associates team and look forward to engaging in conversations and research sessions with students and colleagues. A vibrant Anglican college that conducts excellent academic research and strives to advance it sounds a fantastic opportunity. I have always loved reading books, sharing what I learnt, and helping others grow, which, as I was pursuing my theological education, created an internal inclination to become a scholar and educator. There are three things I bring to the table: the passion for and knowledge of medieval theology, extensive educator’s experience, and some international flavour having studied in two countries, and been involved with seminaries and universities in Ukraine, Belgium and the UK. It allowed me to learn how to build bridges between cultures and gave me some understanding of and sensitivity to different educational backgrounds which I hope will help in supervising Westcott students.'

Dr Rostislav Tkachenko launches our penultimate week of Associate Supervisor intros. Senior Research Fellow at Eastern European Institute of Theology and Lecturer at the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, find out more about Rostislav’s main research focus & interests: buff.ly/kFV3NZk

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

Led by Dr Flo O’Taylor, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House and featuring lectures taught by a range of specialists in the field, our short course in Christian Spirituality East & West introduces its traditions, exploring themes such as desert spirituality, monasticism, icons & more buff.ly/B1WcNT0

Photo of Dr Rebecca Watson, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I’m tremendously excited at the prospect of supporting students who have similar research interests to mine and sharing a mutual passion for the Old Testament /Hebrew Bible. I particularly enjoy learning with students as they explore questions that connect the Bible with topics that interest them, especially when they can bring areas of expertise and experience to bear from outside theology.'

Dr Rebecca Watson's our second Associate Supervisor being introduced this week. Tutor in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and Director of Studies at ERMC, Rebecca’s areas of expertise span Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Psalms, the relation between biblical and Canaanite religion, & more: buff.ly/JtAgEqr

Photo of Dr Jon Phelan, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'Westcott House is a welcoming and supportive place that has exciting ambitions to increase the college’s research profile. It is a great advantage for anyone pursuing research to join such a supportive and developing team. And I can personally attest to the inclusive ethos and lovely setting having lived in the community for twelve months.'

A new week and two more Associate Supervisor intros! First is Dr Jon Phelan, College Lecturer, Fellow & Director of Studies in Philosophy at Homerton, where he also directs studies in Theology, Religion and the Philosophy of Religion. Learn more about Jon’s research interests in bio: buff.ly/UF27UpA

Advert for 2025/26 Short Courses in Christian Spirituality and Theology offered by Westcott House with QR code to register a place.

Looking for a new challenge, or perhaps seeking to build on or deepen your understanding of Christian Spirituality & Theology? Registration for our 2025/26 short courses is open. We offer a range of modules, taught as part of our ARU MAs, but which are open to everyone. More details: buff.ly/tC38R3N

Photo: First year ordinand, Sebastian, with the Brothers and some of the monastery staff at the end of their New Years Carols garden party

Ordinands have a variety of opportunities to experience & engage with parishes/ministry work overseas & within the Anglican Communion during their training at Westcott. First year ordinand, Sebastian, reflects back on his time spent on placement at the Delhi Brotherhood House: buff.ly/fnUwsxJ

Bishop of Monmouth Cherry Vann elected as new Archbishop of Wales She becomes the first woman Primate in an Anglican Church in the UK

Always wonderful to hear news of our alumni. Warmest congratulations to the Most Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth, who has been elected the 15th Archbishop of Wales. Our prayers for this next chapter in your ministry.

Photo of Dr Emma Swai, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'Disability, as embodied experience, is a lens not often factored into academic study. I believe that it should be and, therefore, I offer students the opportunity to consider research from a perspective that specifically aims to recognise potential embedded prejudice in the issues or area they are examining. I see my job as a supervisor as supporting my students to find confidence in their own voice. I will never tell students what to think, but I might challenge them: not necessarily because I disagree, but because I want them to strengthen their own position.'

Dr Emma Swai is up next in our intro series. An educator for over two decades, her research interests look at the portrayal of disability in New Testament writings, linguistic analysis of ecclesiastical texts and positionality & interpretation. More info about Emma’s research in bio: buff.ly/kNk2CXB

Photo of Dr Paul Moore, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I am looking forward to supporting students in the development of their research interests.'

Hello August! As we welcome the new month, the next Associate Supervisor in our series to be introduced is Dr Paul Moore who has been studying & researching biblical/para-biblical language and literature for over twenty-six years. More about Paul's current research interests in bio: buff.ly/fX5bc92

Photo of Professor Peter Kevern, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'My first love is theology, but for most of my research career I have been working in the field of Health and Social Care. I have expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research design, along with a developed sense of the ethical and pastoral issues involved in research on human beings. For me, supervising PhDs has always been the cherry on the academic cake. To have the opportunity to work alongside somebody starting out on their own journey, watching them develop their own theological ‘voice’, is a real privilege. I am looking forward to bringing some of my research expertise back into a theological context and helping to build the next generation of thinkers and writers.'

Our second intro this week is Prof. Peter Kevern. In his role as Professor of Values in Health and Social Care at the University of Staffordshire, Peter combines teaching and researching along with academic leadership in the University. Learn more about his core research in bio: buff.ly/6J0NKTv

Photo of Revd Canon Dr Philip Hobday, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'Having trained in the Federation, I value both the links with Cambridge but also between students and staff of different Christian background and traditions as part of the wider, diverse ecology of the Church of England and the ecumenical scene. I’m really looking forward to supporting those preparing for or in frontline ministry who are working on postgraduate theology. Having done my own postgraduate study (MA and PhD) while in part- or full-time ministry roles and trying to have a personal life too, I get the challenges of juggling research with other commitments and hope I would bring patience and understanding as well as helping students shape practical strategies for their work.'

As July draws to a close it brings with it two more Associate Supervisor intros! First is Revd Canon Dr Philip Hobday, Sub-Dean of Wakefield Cathedral. Philip’s research areas include Christian Doctrine, Early & Reformation Church History, Anglican Identity, Faith & Politics. Bio: buff.ly/ZBBh2K5

Portrait of Brooke Foss Westcott, a former Bishop of Durham and founding President of Westcott House.

Today the Church of England commemorates Brooke Foss Westcott, former Bishop of Durham. We give thanks for this respected scholar, educator & bishop who was our founding President. His vision for clergy education continues to guide us as we work to serve the church by resourcing people for ministry.

Entrance to the dining hall at Westcott House.

Seeking a rewarding work environment within a welcoming community? Westcott House is currently advertising for a Catering Manager, Assistant Chef and Catering Assistant to join their friendly staff team. Further details and job descriptions are available from our website: buff.ly/EovOX0f

Photo of Dr Ryan Collman, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I am excited about being an Associate Supervisor at Westcott House because it allows me to use my skills to work alongside students who are keen to use their research of the Bible for the good of the church and society.'

Second up this week in our Associate Supervisor intro series is Dr Ryan Collman. His primary research interests focus on reading the New Testament within Judaism and the Apostle Paul. More on Ryan’s other areas of research in bio: buff.ly/Id4gPca

Photo of Revd Canon Dr Gale Richards, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I think the Cambridge Theological Federation is an inspirational ecumenical endeavour and I am excited at the prospect of contributing to this through my work with Westcott House.'

Continuing our intros, next up is Revd Canon Dr Gale Richards. Part-time regional minister for the Eastern Baptist Association, & honorary Ecumenical Canon at Ely Cathedral, Gale’s research specialises in womanist & practical theologies, ecclesiology, & congregational studies. Bio: buff.ly/8wk9bYG

Photo of Dr Claire Williams, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I am interested in all areas of Practical Theological research, either with empirical investigation or without. Autism, neurodivergent and disability theologies can be woven into Practical Theology or theorised outside of it and I am happy to work with students who have an interest in this area. Students who are interested in Charismatic and Pentecostal theologies, perhaps as part of their own background or in constructive conversation with other theologies are also very welcome. Alongside Karen O’Donnell I am keen to expand the field of pregnancy, non-pregnancy and body theologies.'

Our second Associate Supervisor to be introduced this week is Dr Claire Williams. Lecturer in Practical Theology and liberation at Regents Theological College, Malvern, Claire’s areas of research include autism, neurodivergent, and feminist theologies, amongst others: buff.ly/0LOJlhS

Photo of Dr Alastair Lockhart, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I am looking forward to developing approaches to the individual, diverse and dynamic ways people have wrestled with religious ideas in the modern world in the context of the lively and engaged culture of Westcott.'

Another week & more Associate Supervisors to be introduced! First is Dr Alastair Lockhart, Fellow of Churchill College and Quondam Fellow & Director of Studies for Theology, Religion & Philosophy of Religion at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. Info on Alastair's research interests in bio: buff.ly/WFYp4oT

Photo of Dr Emily Gathergood, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I’m delighted to be joining the Westcott community as a research supervisor. I’m looking forward to guiding students on their personal pathway of intellectual discovery in New Testament studies and am passionate about the pursuit of biblical knowledge for the resourcement of the church’s worship and ministry. I enjoy guiding students through the creative intellectual process of conducting historical, literary, and theological research on the scriptures that are foundational for Christianity. My supervision practice is oriented towards attentive and inspirational direction which empowers students to develop their own scholarly voice.'

Dr Emily Gathergood's next in the spotlight whose research focuses on early Christian conceptualisations of the body, healthcare & disability. Her award-winning book (forthcoming) The Midwifery of God explores divinity, maternity & pain in the NT & other early Christian writings. Bio buff.ly/JKRlwac

Photo of Dr James Broad, Associate Supervisor at Westcott House. Text: 'I’m passionate about working at Westcott because of the strong academic community and the evident passion for working collaboratively with students to help them in developing their research interests. I can offer students knowledge but also, support. I have recently completed my PhD so the experience is still very fresh in my mind and I can understand the challenges of completing a long piece of work alongside managing life’s other commitments. I was a personal tutor at University for 2 years. This experience further strengthened my passion for working in further education and supporting others to achieve their academic success.'

Our next Associate Supervisor intro is Dr James Broad, who combines a passion for the study of theology with a personal connection to rap music. James has been releasing music as a rap artist for over 15 years, & you can learn more about his research & current projects in his bio: buff.ly/f2zhNAn