May 2024
Dr Mary Charlton is a third-year student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture programme. She began lay reader training in 2018 with the Diocese of Birmingham shortly before retiring from her medical role as an associate specialist in diabetes.
Thinking she’d like to do some extra study alongside her diocesan training to broaden her theological knowledge, Mary took the advice of a trusted friend and priest.
“Coming from a medical background, I wanted an extra qualification to boost my confidence in articulating theological ideas and add to my standing in this new role. Susannah suggested Sarum would be the right place to nourish my interest in the arts,” she explains.
This proved to be good advice as Mary now describes Sarum as her ‘happy place’.
“I loved watching a film and having a long deep discussion about its theology – much better than a 10 min chat in the car!” she says of her experience on the Theology and Film module.
“We are nurtured in so many ways – the course content is enriched by the contribution and perspectives of people from different backgrounds with their own artistic and academic expertise.
“I am immersed in a community of learning and the warmth that comes from that,” she says, adding, “I love the depth of the programme – we really dig into ideas and are encouraged to contribute our own.”
Mary is quick to point out that enjoyable though the programme is, it is grounded on a solid foundation of academic seriousness.
Finding inspiration from the motivation and keen sense of enquiry among the students and tutors, Mary says she appreciates the quality of the discussion, as well as the discipline of deadlines and marked essays which require a coherent argument to support a thesis – whatever that may be.
She smiles as she relays an exchange between colleagues discussing an idea picked up on a Sarum course. ‘Ooh that’s a bit dangerous’, to which the reply was ‘We do dangerous at Sarum’.
“Nothing is off limits,” she says. “I’m absolutely delighted to have quality open-minded conversations with people who think rigorously. It’s a safe place to talk about things you don’t always encounter in the day-to-day church experience.”
The academic support from Sarum faculty was another draw. Though she had undertaken postgraduate study in medical science, Mary says the ready contact with tutors, study skills and dissertation training sessions reassured her that she would be well-guided through this new foray in the humanities.
Mary has been encouraged by diocesan colleagues, including the Birmingham Diocese Director of Ministry Dr Mark Pryce, who is also a visiting scholar at Sarum College. Mark arranged some financial assistance from the diocese, but Mary is primarily self-funded because she feels that it is such a priority to pursue this study.
“This programme is three-quarters for myself, to nourish my love of learning,” Mary explains. “but I also know that the ideas and sense of enquiry will then seep into my ministry, giving me the structure and resources to explore questions and, I hope, come up with creative, while theologically-sound, answers.”
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Mary Charlton is a student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture run by Sarum College and validated by the University of Winchester. Professor Graeme Smith is the programme leader.
Find out more about postgraduate programmes here by browsing the webpages on the programmes and joining us for a Taster Day online 8 July 2024
Forthcoming modules are:
3 to 6 June 2024
Erotic Desires: Gender, Sexuality and Spirituality (Christian Spirituality Programme)
15 to 18 July 2024
The Handmaid’s Tale: Texts and the Christian Tradition (Run jointly by the two programmes)
9 to 12 September 2024
Inspiration and Imagination: Creative Expressions of the Spiritual Life
14 to 17 October 2024
Foundations and Forms of Christian Spirituality
14 to 17 October 2024
25 to 28 November 2024
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