staring into the distance::as far as our eyes can see

About me

Thanks for visiting my blog. Here are some words about me for the inquisitive ones out there.

Current Activity

I currently work as the Dean of Non-residential Training for St Michael’s College, Llandaff in Cardiff. I am responsible for the delivery of non-residential theological teaching to people training to be self-supporting ministers in the Church in Wales, readers (authorised lay minsters in the church) and Methodist candidates for ordination. The course is part of Cardiff University’s BTh programme and we teach it in different sites serving North East Wales (at Glyndwr University in Wrexham), Cardiff (at St Michael’s) and West Wales (at Trinity College Carmarthen). I also teach in the School of Religious and Theological Studies at Cardiff University, where my specialism is liturgy and worship.

Qualifications and Previous Experience

My first degree is from Manchester University, where I studied theology. I then went on to do a Ph.D. also at Manchester. I did my ministerial formation at St John’s College in Nottingham. My doctoral thesis was on the initiation rites of the Catholic Apostolic Church: a nineteenth century church with adventist, liturgical and charismatic emphases.

Prior to taking up my present post I was in Anglican parish ministry at the Bristol parishes of Cotham and St Paul’s in Clifton, where I served as vicar for nine years. During that time I served on the General Synod of the Church of England and the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission. Before that, I was lecturer in Worship and Doctrine at Trinity College, Bristol, which is theological college training people for ordained and lay ministry, chiefly in the Church of England. As part of my other duties there, I also installed and managed the IT/internet facilities of the college.

Study Interests

My principal subject of study is worship and liturgy. From a grounding in liturgical studies, I developed an interest in alternative worship and postmodern forms of church. This involved the setting up of an alternative congregation in 1994, which after many guises, is presently called Foundation. With Steve Collins, I co-host alternativeworship.org, a gateway for anyone researching into Alternative Worship and new forms of church. You can read articles written by me about Alternative Worship by following the links on this blog. There are also some other documents by other writers hosted on my pages, here.

Family Information

I’m married to Sharon, and we have two children, currently both at University.

Hobbies and Interests

I’m interested in computing, radio and electronics. I have been known to do some programming and IT management, but nowadays only for exorbitant rates which nobody can afford. I also love cycling: I commute by bike and train to work, tour when time and inclination permits and presently own two bikes: a Reynolds 531 classic tourer and a Marin hybrid.