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Poetry for Matthew’s Gospel in Advent, Christmas and Epiphany course

This day will draw on poetry and art to draw out the distinctiveness of Matthew’s Gospel and illuminate our interpretation of the Scriptures for the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons 2025-2026.

Poems and visual images will trace particular themes in Matthew, such as ancestry, the birth of Jesus, the significance of Joseph, angels, sleep and dreams, the massacre of the innocents and the journey of the magi, nourishing our preaching, public worship and personal spirituality.

Mark Pryce is a practical theologian and poet who draws on poetry to illuminate the Scriptures and nourish public worship and personal spirituality. He is author of SPCK’s Literary Companion to The Lectionary and Literary Companion for Festivals, a member of the ecumenical theologian-poets group The Diviners and a Chaplain to The King. Mark’s doctoral research on the value of poetry in reflective practice informs his work with ministers, churches, spiritual companions and pastoral supervisors.

Book Event

Early bird in person ticket #2660 £65

In person early bird discount ticket This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £65 rather than £70. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College and online. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments for those attending in person.

Available Tickets: 10

The Early bird in person ticket #2660 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Early bird ticket with B&B the night before#2660 £140

This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £140.00 rather than the normal £145.00. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 5th November 2025 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 2

The Early bird ticket with B&B the night before#2660 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person ticket #2660 £70

This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments.

Available Tickets: 15

The In person ticket #2660 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

In person ticket with B&B the night before #2660 £145

This course will be held onsite at Sarum College. The course fee includes lunch and refreshments. The extra B&B on 5th November 2025 includes accommodation in an en-suite room and breakfast the morning of the course. If the ticket you wish to purchase is showing as not available, please contact me on bclover@sarum.ac.uk, as we may be able to accommodate your request.

Available Tickets: 3

The In person ticket with B&B the night before #2660 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Details

Dates & Times

06 Nov 2025

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tutor(s)

The Revd Canon Dr Mark Pryce

Course code

2660

Other Notes

An onsite course to be held at Sarum College. The fee include lunch and refreshments.

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What our students say

Faith is an imaginative adventure

The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley

I admire the work and tone of Sarum College very deeply. It is a community that takes theology and spirituality seriously, not as hobbies but as pursuits into understanding, and engaging in, a complex world.

Sarum College reminds us that faith is an imaginative adventure and that it is shaped by a questioning joy.

Vibrant approach to theology

Fr Azariah France-Williams

I’ve been particularly struck by the refreshing approach to theological education here. In a world, and indeed within parts of the church, where faith can sometimes feel stagnant or out of touch, Sarum offers a vibrant and relevant alternative. The courses encourage a bold exploration of profound ideas, connecting with truths that lie beneath the surface and fostering genuine personal growth, which feels particularly significant as I approach my 50th year. This counter-cultural spirit, which embraces depth and challenges ageism and fear, is truly remarkable. Sarum is a place where individuals can be transformed by engaging with a living and breathing faith.

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.

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.’

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.

The Revd Canon Dr Mark Pryce

Visiting Scholar in Human Flourishing

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Poetry for Matthew’s Gospel in Advent, Christmas and Epiphany