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
Julia MourantTutor in Spiritual Formation and Biblical Studies Read more
Tim HarleCoordinator for the Centre for Leadership Learning Read more
Jon MorganCoordinator of the Centre for Theology, Imagination and Culture Read more
All academic staff
August 2020
Greek in a Week 2020: Learning to Read the New Testament in Greek
The New Testament, Christianity’s founding collection of writings, has played a major role in the development of Western history and culture. Yet its very familiarity is deceptive. To read it only in translation is to see it through someone else’s eyes, and a knowledge of the original language in which it was written enriches our understanding and enjoyment of its contents. “…a challenging and fascinating course taught by a very knowledgeable and patient tutor.” “Far better than I could ever… Read more
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew 2020
Reading the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible in the language in which it was written is to open a window into a different world and times. We are as a culture more than 3,000 years distant from the nomadic tribes who wandered the Middle East from amongst whom emerged a radical new understanding of Creation and the Creator. Learning to read Biblical Hebrew is an adventure in difference. Ancient Hebrew is linguistically distant from European languages and employs structures and techniques to… Read more
September 2020
Leading Across the Generations: Engaging Millennials
How do we make the most of the insights of all the generations? And how do we do so as we seek to develop leaders in the church today, especially the Millennials? Millennials (also known as Gen Y – those born between 1984-2000) are among us. They are different, and many churches are finding that they don’t seem to lead in the same ways as other generations. This day explains the differences between the generations (Gen Y, Gen X, Boomers,… Read more
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 1: 24-25 September 2020
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
Reading Scripture Together: Sarah and Hagar
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. Sarah and Hagar are the matriarchs of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. Their stories highlight themes of conflict, privilege, promise, and the power of story to construct a religious identity. This day will explore the story of Sarah and Hagar in detail… Read more
Rural Mission and Ministry day: The Way Under our Feet: A Christian Spirituality of Walking
Explore the theme of walking in Scripture and how this can relate to our daily spiritual life. St Paul, the itinerant tent maker, walked many miles on his missionary journeys and characterized the Christian life as a walk, using the metaphor on 32 occasions. God has invited us to walk the way of Jesus and along the way we discover our story and our song. As we journey, our lives begin to reflect the walk we make. St Francis of… Read more
October 2020
Chaplaincy and Criminal Justice
Explore the particular challenges and opportunities for chaplains developing ministries and/or serving in the police, prisons and courts. With a specific focus on the themes of crime and punishment, we will address an overarching question: How do we develop compassionate responses to damaged and damaging people? The day will include: – an informal discussion on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel, Crime and Punishment; – a participative interview with Martyn Cook who coordinates chaplaincy services as Swindon Law Courts; – an exploration of… Read more
Foundations and Forms of Christian Spirituality
This module will introduce students to the nature of Spirituality in the Christian tradition until the end of the eighteenth century. It will look at several spiritual traditions within Christianity and enable students to place them in their historical and philosophical contexts. Students will become aware of the problems we face in matters of interpretation when dealing with classical spiritual texts and will be encouraged to apply a range of interpretative methods to the texts they are introduced to. Those… Read more
Introduction to the Enneagram
The Enneagram is an ancient, extraordinarily accurate, model of human personality and spirit. Describing nine personality types and their interactions, it enables us to look deeply into our character, harmonise our daily lives and our relationships, and understand our particular, best path to growth. Taught in the narrative tradition, participants come away with a living experience, rather than simply a theoretical knowledge, of the ways in which different types of people view and interact with the world. I use video… Read more
Theology and Human Culture
Engage with the ‘texts’ and practices of human culture and explore the nature of the relationship between theology and culture through creative and critical perspectives. Students will be given the opportunity to refine and update their knowledge of theologians and key theological debates as they relate to human culture, show how central themes in theology are expressed through different forms of culture in history and today, and be given the opportunity to critically reflect on human culture through a variety… Read more
Bridgebuilding: Making Peace with Conflict
How can you better handle tensions and conflict in relationships and groups, including within the church? This course will offer you some tools, skills and insights for thinking differently about the conflict in human interactions, aiming to help you in building bridges with others. Contact Alison Ogden for all booking enquiries aogden@sarum.ac.uk | 01722 424826 | 01722 424800 (main reception) Read more
Re-writing the Bible in Public
The days of cultural privilege for the Bible are long gone. But as a suspect text, it has new, subversive potential. This course explores how the cultural status of the Bible affects interpretation, and how creative, public re-reading of the Bible can re-write stories that quietly enforce the rules by which we live. Contact Alison Ogden for all booking enquiries aogden@sarum.ac.uk | 01722 424826 | 01722 424800 (main reception) Read more
Paul as Pastor
Most people consider Paul as a church planter and teacher of the faith. He was these things but uniquely, he combined in himself through his gifting the fivefold ministry of the apostle; prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist. He was all of these at times. His letters convey both his teaching of the infant church and his pastoral heart towards them. During this course, we will look at what motivated him as a pastor, how he understood the goals of pastoral… Read more
Facts of Blood & Bread: Drama and Power in the Gospel of Mark
A dialogical, resource focus on the 2021 Gospel of the Year earthing the story in lived experience. Through a selection of narratives from Mark, we will explore the resonances of this ancient context for contemporary life and ministry. The Gospel of Mark is 2021’s Gospel of the Year and this day will dialogical and resource-focused, earthing this story in lived experience – ‘facts of blood and bread’ – by exploring a selection of narratives from Mark and finding where this… Read more
For Us Men and For Our Salvation? When Feminism, Ritual and Liturgy Collide
Much of the liturgy used in our church settings speaks overwhelmingly of male experience, language and shaping. Yet efforts to reimagine it have been deemed transgressive. This day offers an opportunity to explore together feminist words, liturgy and rituals. Liturgy and ritual are rich and beautiful gifts to enable, in part, the expression of human experience and Divine connection. Yet much of what is used in our church settings speaks overwhelmingly of male experience, language and shaping. There has been… Read more
Sing Gregorian Chant 2020
This day offers the chance to experience and sing Gregorian chant in a friendly context. An entertaining, informative and enjoyable experience structured around the monastic hour services. The theology of Gregorian chant is explored through singing it, for those with theological, historical or musical interests. Singing experience is welcome, but not necessary for the course. There will be a chance to sing a short service in the Trinity Chapel at Salisbury Cathedral. Using at first simple recitation in English, it… Read more
November 2020
Biblical Study Break: Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible
This course will consider historical contexts and theological concepts in minor prophetic literature There will be a focus on Amos, Jonah, Zephaniah and Malachi in particular, as well as considerations of the reception of minor prophets in ancient religious literature more broadly. Minor prophetic literature is an understudied and often misunderstood genre of the Hebrew Bible. What did Amos intend to accomplish with his rousing, politically-laden speeches? Why did Jonah disobey God’s command? What does Zephaniah understand justice and love… Read more
The Spirituality of Space
Christians are called to reach beyond place, beyond borders, boundaries and conventions, out into space. So, the Spirit impels Jesus after his baptism – into the wilderness. Where do we find that space and wilderness in our lives? We will try to discover a spirituality of space in our stories, in architecture, in art, poetry, and theology. There has been a renewed interest recently in the theology of place. But arguably Christians are called to reach beyond place, beyond borders,… Read more
Autumn Silent Retreat
Retreat from all the busyness of life by coming on Silent Retreat at Sarum. Using gentle liturgy, spiritual reflection practices, and rest we aim to create a residential community of silence and calm for the weekend. Retreat from all the busyness of life by coming on a Silent Retreat at Sarum. Using gentle liturgy, spiritual reflection practices, and rest we aim to create a residential community of silence and calm for the weekend. Silent Retreats are a time for you… Read more
Pastoral Liturgy Day: Liturgy that Nurtures: The Pastoral Power of Worship
An exploration of how liturgy can be a powerful element of pastoral ministry in a parish or other worshipping communities. Attention will be given both to the occasional offices, and the routine Eucharistic worship of a parish, demonstrating that both can be powerful pastoral ministries. The liturgical worship of the parish carries with it pastoral opportunities as well as those of teaching and discipleship. In this day course we will explore the ways in which liturgy has a pastoral aspect,… Read more
Befriending Death?
How do we consider morality and prepare for death? This day aims to facilitate a conversation about this aspect of our shared ministry and introduce some resources to equip us all to continue to develop and grow in wisdom in his area of pastoral and spiritual work. This day is ideally suited for spiritual directors and anyone, lay or ordained, engaging in pastoral ministry. “Sensitively led, felt unhurried with plenty of time for reflection. A great opportunity for discussion.” Contact… Read more
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 2: 12-13 November 2020
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
Art, Faith and the Unsaid
A day to explore the creative tension between the image and the word. Drawing together art history and theology we will look at works of art old and new to consider the vitality of uncertainty, the imaginative potential of space and the subversive power of the image to question authority. Contact Alison Ogden for all booking enquiries aogden@sarum.ac.uk | 01722 424826 | 01722 424800 (main reception) Read more
Our Ministry of Health and Healing
This day will explore the traditional healing ministry, look at the role of prayer, and explore the mission field. We shall reimagine Christian spiritual healing and the power of faith in helping individuals and building up the mission of the church. Jesus asks his disciples to grow the church and to heal. Today, we tend to be more comfortable doing the former, and we have lost our confidence to offer the gifts of the Christian Spiritual healing. In this teaching… Read more
Reading the Bible with People Who Don’t Read the Bible
More and more people today have little or no familiarity with the Bible. Have you struggled with how to help them understand the Bible’s relevance? This course is for anyone working with individuals and groups who are unfamiliar with the Bible and the various ways it can be read and understood. This day will be spent exploring various reading practices, such as dialogical and contextual methods, for approaching the Bible in fresh, exciting ways. The aim of the day is… Read more
Teach Us How to Pray: Poetry and Prayer
This day will explore the role of poets as instructors in the art of prayer, not just as a set of words, but as an effective experience, a form of meditation and a wordless, bodily practice. The day will involve close reading, reflection and discussion on poems that engage with traditions of public and liturgical prayer, of private and extemporary prayer, and of secular forms of prayer. By the end of the day, you will have encountered new literature and… Read more
Change and Conflict
This module critically examines theoretical and practical aspects of change through several disciplines, especially theology, ecclesiology, missiology, ecology, psychology and complexity theory. The various strands are brought together to provide a holistic view of the origins and potentially transforming role of conflict. Throughout, students apply the concepts to their situations to increase shared learning and to provide practical insights for their practice. this postgraduate module is open to wider participation. Those not on the MA programme are very welcome to… Read more
Embodying Wisdom
This module introduces the key philosophical and psychological issues of the last 100 years that have shaped contemporary understandings of Spirituality. Students will be encouraged to examine contemporary concepts of ‘experience’ and ‘self’ in the light of some seminal thinkers of the twentieth century, whose works can be directly related to issues of religious subjectivity. Students will also be enabled to assess the impact of the work of Carl Jung on Christian thought and practice, including in pastoral care and… Read more
Liturgy and Time: Calendar and Daily Prayer
This module will explore how Christian worship has been influenced by its relationship with time. The way Christians have developed daily patterns of prayer will be investigated, together with the constituent elements of this form of prayer, such as the use of psalms, scripture and intercessory prayer. The historical origins and evolution of the Christian festivals together with their theological and ritual meaning will form the basis of an analysis of annual rhythms of prayer. Contemporary revisions of either Daily… Read more
Text, Interpretation and Imagination
The images, stories, myths and teachings of the Bible have served as a foundation for the Western cultural imagination. The Bible, when read in each new cultural context, both challenges the readers’ cultural assumptions and is challenged by new ways of reading which spring forth from the readers’ distinct perspective. The discipline, art and craft of hermeneutics require that one become sensitive to both the reading of the text and the act of being read by the text. During this… Read more
December 2020
Reading Scripture Together: The Four Marys
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. The voices of women are thin on the ground in the Gospel texts. Four of the most significant female presences within these texts are, coincidentally, all named Mary; Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Martha, and Mary the… Read more
January 2021
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 3: 21-22 January 2021
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
March 2021
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 4: 4-5 March 2021
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
June 2021
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 5: 2-4 June 2021
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
Christian Approaches to Leadership in the Public Square 2021
What is the potential impact of faith-based leadership on and within institutions? Especially in a time when religion is being marginalised and faith is under attack? Those not on the MA programme are very welcome to book on this module as an auditor. Contact Chris Whimpenny for all booking enquiries cwhimpenny@sarum.ac.uk | 01722 424827 | 01722 424800 (main reception) Read more
July 2021
Music in Worship Day: Sing it Again: Taizé and Short Songs in Worship
An opportunity to explore, through teaching and practise, how short songs can enrich all kinds of worship. ‘The high point of this prayer [at Taizé] is the singing which never ends and which continues afterwards in the silence of the hearts when we are alone again.’ Brother Roger of Taizé The use of repeated short songs is a feature of worship in various traditions; what is its value? In answering this question the course will focus upon the music of… Read more
September 2021
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 6: 23-24 September 2021
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
November 2021
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 7: 18-19 November 2021
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
January 2022
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 8: 27-28 January 2022
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
March 2022
Sarum Course in Spiritual Direction: Session 9: 24-25 March 2022
Two-year course with nine residential sessions. 2020 to 2022 dates: 24 to 25 September 2020; 12 to 13 November 2020; 21 to 22 January 2021; 4 to 5 March 2021; 2 to 4 June 2021; 23 to 24 September 2021; 18 to 19 November 2021; 27 to 28 January 2022 and 24 to 25 March 2022. This two-year course offers a balanced learning environment, blending personal and spiritual formation with skills development. Participants undertake this training as part of a… Read more
Sarum College 2019-20 Courses and Events Brochure
