Sarum College is an ecumenical study and research centre with an international reputation for excellence in theological education and spiritual reflection.
Sarum College offers a distinguished location for meetings, conferences, events and functions with full catering services.
Sarum College Bookshop is Salisbury's most established independent Christian and theological bookshop.
The Sarum College Library has an outstanding academic theological collection of more than 40,000 books covering all denominations.
Meet the Academic Staff
Paul BurdenCoordinator, Centre for Formation in Ministry and Director of Contextual Learning Read more
James StevenAcademic Dean and Coordinator for the Centre for Liturgy and Worship Read more
Ann PhilpChaplain, Centre for Formation in Ministry Read more
All academic staff
April 2020
(Cancelled) Confronting the Violence in the Old Testament
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. The Old Testament is full of violence- isn’t it? The God of the Old Testament is vengeful and wrathful- isn’t he? This course will tackle some of the hardest Old Testament texts and ask the question; can we love the Old Testament and believe in the goodness of God. The Flood… the sacrifice of animals… the conquest of Canaan… the rape of the Levite’s concubine… the… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 1: Christian Interpretation of the Bible
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for a rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention… Read more
(Cancelled) Ambrose of Milan: Prayer, Preaching and the Pastoral Care in the 4th Century
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. Ambrose is mentioned in passing but not much attention is paid to him in his own right. So what did Ambrose teach and how did he live? What was his role in the emerging church of the fourth century? Why would you come on a study day on Ambrose? Ambrose is mentioned in passing but not much attention is paid to him in his own right.… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 2: Thinking About the Bible Theologically
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible, and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention to… Read more
May 2020
(Cancelled) Spring Silent Retreat
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. Retreat from the busyness of life through gentle liturgy, spiritual reflection practices, and rest. Silent Retreats are a time for you to let go of high expectations of yourself and others. It is not a time to get things done, but a time to rest, reflect, listen, and be at ease. Some may use this time to write, walk, take an extra nap, read, create art,… Read more
(Taught Online) Liturgy and Culture
Due to social distancing measures, this course will be held online. See our official statement here. This module will investigate the relationship between liturgy and its changing cultural contexts. This is a topic that has become increasingly important for churches as they reassess their relationship to society and for liturgical studies as churches and scholars recognise the significance of cultural context for liturgical development. The module will introduce students to different ways of understanding the relationship between culture and liturgy,… Read more
(Cancelled) Music in Worship Day: Hearing the Sacred in Music: Listening as Prayer
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. This course will examine various views of the relationship between music and the listener and how spirituality may enter this experience. It will embrace a variety of styles and contexts, both secular and sacred. It will examine how tone, colour, expressive character, musical construction and value systems relate to spirituality and whether the spirit resides in the music itself or in the relationship between music and… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 3: The Bible as Liturgical Text
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for a rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention… Read more
(Cancelled) A Kind of Belonging: An Introduction to the Theology of Place
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. This day is an introduction to the Christian theology of place. It particularly relates to the parish system in England. This day has three sessions. We look first at the idea that God is in this place. We introduce a Christian theology of place, including place in scripture and Anglican tradition and an overview of how human and physical geography contribute to our understanding of locality,… Read more
(Cancelled) Just Pay Attention… Appreciating the Poetry of Mary Oliver
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. The late Mary Oliver is one of the most cherished and admired contemporary American poets. Her lucid and uncomplicated poems, inspired by nature and dog-walking in Cape Cod and Florida, the experience of friendship, love and grief, are a balm for the soul in a frenetic culture. ‘…a poet of wisdom and generosity whose vision allows us to look intimately at a world, not of our… Read more
(Cancelled) Biblical Study Break: Biblical Models for Conflict Transformation
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. Jesus said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God’ (Matthew 5:9). Today the phrase “conflict transformation” has been used to describe the various processes whereby people and nations seek to establish constructive and positive dynamics and institutions in their communities in place of the destruction and sorrow of war and civil strife. Conflict transformation includes the work of confronting evil… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 4: The Bible in Conflict Transformation
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible, and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention to… Read more
(Cancelled) Reading Scripture Together: Tales of Two Cities
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. This conversational one-day course series will re-read selected sacred texts in detail and consider the ways they have been interpreted, both in the written word and in art, and on their relevance and meaning to us today. From Jewish and Christian perspectives, we will delve into two deeply problematic, misused, and misunderstood texts: the tale of the city of Sodom in Genesis 19 and the tale… Read more
(Cancelled) What is Prayer? A Very Theological Approach
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. This study aims to investigate what, theologically speaking, is going on in the Christian practise of prayer. Seeking throughout to integrate doctrinal reflection and contemplative practise, it explores the difference prayer makes and what is going on when Christians pray. Contact Alison Ogden for all booking enquiries aogden@sarum.ac.uk | 01722 424826 | 01722 424800 (main reception) Read more
(Cancelled) Renewing Wellbeing
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. In this course, we will look at simple shared habits and spaces run by churches. Looking at the three core principles of being present, being prayerful and being in partnership with existing mental health services , this course will look at the story of Renew wellbeing , a charity formed to help churches set up wellbeing cafes. With references to the psalms and the gospels Ruth,… Read more
(Taught Online) God, Beauty and the Imagination
Due to the Coronavirus, this course is being taught online. See our official statement here. This course aims to explore how God, beauty and imagination have found expression in art, literature and music and how these themes have been reflected in theology. In so doing the module will provide an introduction to some major art-historical epochs and subjects and examine how artists have engaged with and have rendered Christian dogmas, such as the life, death and resurrection of Christ, the… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 5: Feminist and Womanist Interpretations
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible, and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention to… Read more
(Cancelled) Carmelite Spirituality
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. This day will explore Carmelite Spirituality It will be focusing on the spiritualities of Teresa if Avila and John of the Cross and bringing them into dialogue with the life and work of Edith Stein, a 20th Century Discalced Carmelite nun. Originating on Mount Carmel in the high Middle Ages, the Carmelite order has grown to extend to all corners of the world. In our day… Read more
(Cancelled) Leading in a Second Chair
Due to the Coronavirus, this event has been cancelled. See our official statement here. Leaders are often assumed to be at the top of organisations. Relatively little attention has been paid to those occupying a second chair. The role may be clear, eg deputy head of a school or vice-chair of a board of trustees. But the application in a church context – youth pastor, curate, deacon, Licensed Lay Minister – can raise questions of ecclesiology and approaches to ministry.… Read more
(Taught Online) Exploring Theology Term 3: Week 6: Liberationalist Perspectives
Due to the Coronavirus, this event is being taught online. See our official statement here. Exploring the Bible Exploring Theology’s year 2019-20 is subtitled Encountering the Bible, and focuses on gaining tools and understanding for rigorous, imaginative, faithful and fruitful encounter with the Scriptures. The Autumn Term explores the Hebrew Scriptures known to Christians as the Old Testament, then the Spring Term explores the New Testament. These two terms cover (almost) the whole of the Bible, with selected attention to… Read more
Sarum College 2019-20 Courses and Events Brochure
