In this section:

About|Details|What our students say|Tutor(s)|Related short courses

Home Short Courses Contemporary Spirituality Foundations and Forms of Christian Spirituality (2022)

About the Foundations and Forms of Christian Spirituality (2022) course

An introduction to the roots and types of spirituality in the Christian tradition up to the late Medieval period. The course also will explore a number of spiritual traditions within Christianity to place them in their historical and philosophical contexts.

The focus is on the Greek roots of Christian spirituality, as well as monastic, Celtic, and Orthodox spiritualities.

We will discuss issues of interpretation with classical spiritual texts and explore different ways of interpreting and applying ideas in our reading of these texts.

Specific session themes include:

  • the histories and traditions of Christian Spiritualities, including key movements which were influential on the early developments of Christianity up to and including the Reformations with Dr Michael Hahn
  • key themes and texts from Christian scriptures in the study of Christian spirituality; methods and hermeneutics of biblical studies in the 21st century with Dr Jayme Reaves 
  • early Christian contemplative tradition and its engagement with the story of Moses on Mount Sinai with Dr Ann Conway-Jones
  • Celtic spiritual and literary traditions with Professor Ann Dooley
  • Orthodox spiritual and theological traditions; key themes will include theosis and icons with Dr Michael Hahn.
  • Monastic spirituality with with Dr Michael Hahn
  • Spirituality in the Reformations, especially Catholic (Counter) Reformation, and the spirituality of figures within this with Dr Edward Howells

This excellent introduction to the historical study of Christian Spirituality is part of the Christian Spirituality postgraduate studies programme and is open to ‘auditors’ eg those who join the course without receiving academic credit.

What does it mean to audit a course? 

This course would made an excellent addition to a study break, retreat or sabbatical in the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral Close, where residential participants enjoy full board, access to the library and to the pattern of liturgy at Salisbury Cathedral.

Whether it’s cultural events, sightseeing (Stonehenge is nearby for example) or shopping — there’s plenty to do if you’d like to extend your stay the weekend before and after the course. For ideas, visit Salisbury Cathedral Close attraction websites to see what’s on Sarum’s doorstep. Visit the Wiltshire Creative website to view events at nearby Salisbury Playhouse and the Salisbury Arts Centre. The Experience Salisbury website has an excellent city-wide listing of forthcoming events around the city.

Need financial assistance? View our list of grantmaking trusts

Enrolled students also may attend teaching weeks for modules in addition to the modules which they are studying for credit, by permission of the Programme Leader. Student rates for hospitality costs during a teaching week currently are: £250 (en-suite), £200 (standard) and £60 (non-residential), along with an educational fee of £125 per booking. The audit fee and hospitality prices are reviewed annually with any changes effective from 1 July.

 

The Non-residential auditor course #2676 ticket sales has ended!
The Residential with B&B on course #2676 dates ticket sales has ended!
The Residential plus B&B night before course #2676 ticket sales has ended!
The Residential plus B&B night after course #2676 ticket sales has ended!
The Residential plus 2 extra nights B&B (1 before & 1 after) course #2676 ticket sales has ended!

Details

Dates & Times

10 - 13 Oct 2022
Expired!
Modules begin 2pm Monday and end by 2:30pm Thursday.

Location

Sarum College

Category

Tutor(s)

Dr Michael Hahn
Guest Tutors

Course code

2676

Other Notes

This is a postgraduate course open to those not enrolled for academic credit. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College.

All ticket options include lunch and refreshments on each day of the course.

Residential tickets include an evening meal along with B&B.

What our students say

PhD Research Programmes

Visual Artist Claire Reed

The complex and sometimes fractious relationship between contemporary art and religion has intrigued me throughout my art career, informing my direction as an artist. It has led me to work in sacred spaces with their immediate and wider communities, to study an MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture at Sarum College, and recently to become artist–researcher at Leo Baeck College of Jewish scholarship and learning.

My aim is to examine the extent to which this creative approach might generate fruitful inter-religious theological insights within a Jewish and Christian ministry training context.

Sarum College combines an open-minded embrace of the imagination and the arts with a supportive, questioning and diverse community. Crucially for me, the Sarum-Winchester PhD programme is one of the very few UK university programmes to offer a hybrid thesis in art and theology in which the creative process and resulting art output along with a written critical component are presented for examination.

This PhD research is a key part of my development as an artist engaged with theology and inter-religious dialogue.

Read full article

Stimulating and Challenging

What is Successful Ageing? led by James Woodward

I enjoyed the course immensely from beginning to end – the seamless interweaving of knowledge, ideas and research and the linking with belief and faith.

The content was stimulating, challenging, thought provoking and I was greatly appreciative of the contributions and questions from other participants, your considered and sensitive responses and integration with your presentations.

Thank you!

 

 

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.

Read more 

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.’

Read more

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.

Read more 

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

Tutor(s)

Dr Michael Hahn

Programme Leader for Postgraduate Programmes in Christian Spirituality

Guest Tutors

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.