This course covers the variety of ways in which spiritual development takes place over the course of a lifetime. It includes study of various models of spiritual development and the theories that underpin them.

Students will explore issues of particular concern for pastoral care in the contemporary context and engage with non-theological disciplines that provide pastoral care.

The course will engage with scholarly debates on the relationship between spiritual development, suffering, and trauma. Students will examine the nature of spirituality and spiritual development for both the very young, the elderly, those who are differently abled, and those who experience trauma.

For the 2023 iteration of this module, topics and guest speakers include:
Narratology of selves, and spiritualities of ageing and death with The Revd Canon Prof James Woodward;
Medical and Theological approaches to wellbeing, and understanding of pain and wellbeing with Dr Charlie Bell;
Spiritual Direction and wellbeing with The Revd Julia Mourant
The Mindfulness movement and its Christian inheritance, and psychotherapy and wellbeing with Prof Peter Tyler
Perfection and wellbeing in the Bible with Dr Jayme Reaves;
Trauma and healthcare for gender-variant people with Prof Susannah Cornwall
Chaplaincy and wellbeing with Dr Chris Swift

This is a postgraduate course open to auditors e.g. those attending the course who are not enrolled for academic credit.

What does it mean to audit a course? 

There is also an option to choose to participate in a module as an assessed auditor for those who would like to add discipline and tutor feedback to their study but aren’t sure about taking on a full degree programme.

Joining this course is an opportunity to have a study break 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 is 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

Learn more about postgraduate study in Christian Spirituality

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. The audit fee for enrolled students from 1 July.2025 to 30 June 2026 is £160.