Dr Alex Fry

Bio:

Dr Alex Fry is Senior Lecturer in the Sociology of Health and Illness at Bournemouth University.

His PhD, from Durham University, explored the historical, sociological and psychological factors shaping the gender attitudes held by clergymen from theologically conservative traditions in the Church of England, focusing on their theologies of women’s ordination. This led to his book Gender Inequality in the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England (Routledge).

Alex has also held postdoctoral positions at St John’s College, Durham; as the William Leech Fellow, he explored the relationship between wellbeing and religious community participation in areas of socioeconomic deprivation, before joining the ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science) project. His ECLAS role involved working within the Mission and Public Affairs (later, Faith and Public Life) division of the Archbishops’ Council, where he analysed the Church of England’s public policy responses to AI and COVID-19.

Since arriving at Bournemouth University, Alex has co-led two projects as part of the Living Ministry initiative on clergy wellbeing; the first was with working-class clergy, leading to a report which was widely featured in the media, including in The Times, The Telegraph, BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme, The Guardian and the Church Times.

The second project is underway and focuses on disabled clergy. Alex regularly engages with Christian audiences, is active in his local church and is a part of the AI, Faith and Civil Society Commission.