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Learning to Nourish the Human Spirit

Sarum College is a learning community open to all.

Sarum College offers diverse courses, consultancy, conferences and research opportunities to suit different styles of living and learning.

Course and programme structures vary widely, from evening lectures to day and residential courses – at varying levels, from academic to experiential, intensive to leisurely.

Our mission is fulfilled when students and guests come away from their time here spiritually and intellectually nourished, refreshed in wisdom and courage.

In a time when formal religion seems to struggle to connect with people — Sarum, in its message and its methods, offers a special place and a series of imaginative communities for nourishing the soul, growing wholeness, and giving confidence for a richer future.

— The Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, Chair of Trustees

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Theology, Imagination & Culture

Pursue theological enquiry and its relationship to culture and creativity. Wide range of courses to support a thoughtful engagement with society, the arts, mission, and contemporary challenges.
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Christian Spirituality

Explore society’s search for spirituality and its role in church life and public values. Wide range of interdisciplinary programmes to study for interest and vocational development.
Sarum College Spiritual Direction
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Spiritual Direction

The two-year Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction prepares those called to this ministry to competently and confidently accompany others. Blends personal and spiritual formation with skill development.
Human Flourishing

Human Flourishing

The centre for human flourishing aims to inspire fresh thinking on how we live together. We interrogate the common good via themes such as wholeness, healing, suffering, playing, work, eating, loving and blessing.
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Leadership & professional development

Leadership courses, development, research and consulting services for area, regional and national church bodies, organisations and for individuals. Practical effectiveness with theological and theoretical rigour.
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Bible & Sacred Texts

Read, explore, discuss and interpret biblical and sacred texts from diverse perspectives for historical information, moral guidance, spiritual wisdom, to encounter each other and God, and for the sheer pleasure of it.

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Netflix, Theology and Pastoral Practice

Peter Butchers on his MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture student experience

How do cultural tropes, like those found in Black Mirror, help bridge the gap between what academic theology espouses and what the everyday Christian believes? In his research as a student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture, Peter Butchers explored platonic philosophy, digital theology and eschatology, and pastoral practice around death and dying.

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Rewarding Sabbatical Stay

The Revd Greg Syler, is Rector of Ascension & St. George’s, Resurrection Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC USA, spent part of his ministry sabbatical at Sarum College in spring 2022.

His account of the experience begins: ‘I loved spending nearly three weeks of my ministry sabbatical at Sarum College earlier this year.

Not only did I rest, and rest well in the comfortable care of the Sarum College staff, I experienced very significant renewal and fresh insights.’

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The Road Not Taken

Sarum Graduate Mike Truman

January 2022

Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.

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Clergy Study Breaks

The opportunity for clergy to get away occasionally from their own context, to have an overnight stay in the beautiful setting of Sarum College and all that the Salisbury Cathedral Close offers is hugely valuable. All the clergy I have suggested who have spent 24hrs at Sarum College have benefit greatly from the experienced mentoring where they can talk, reflect, think, plan and pray.

The support and encouragement they receive is excellent and has a positive on their on going ministry. This is something the Diocese of Rochester encourages and supports financially in preparation for their clergy preparing for Extended Ministerial Development Leave (Sabbatical).

— Canon Christopher Dench, Diocese of Rochester Director of Formation and Ministry

Retreats and Private Stays

When I arrived, exhausted and sensitive, I was grateful not to be asked by Reception were I came from, whether I had had a good journey etc. That was the kind of hospitality I needed: a non-intrusive welcome that was found in ancient cultures and still survives in some societies today, where the host asks questions about a stranger and his journey only when the visitor has rested and been given food and drink.

— guest on a private stay

Biblical Study Breaks

I just found it very refreshing – as a leader of a church I don’t get as many opportunities to step out and do courses (my fault, not the church!) and so I loved it. I think it was run really well online – which is a difficult medium to work with.

Pádraig Ó Tuama (pictured) was outstanding in his balance of getting us to engage and sharing his learning. Also the quick availability of resources provided by Sarum College Librarian Jayne Downey was excellent.

— course participant, Story Theology: Narrative Approaches to Scripture

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