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
Sonia WoolleyScholar in Residence Read more
Keith ElfordCoordinator, Centre for Leadership Learning Read more
Karen O’DonnellCoordinator, Centre for Contemporary Spirituality Read more
All academic staff
November 2020
Biblical Study Break: Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible
What can we learn from the Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible? This online course over four days explores and examines the literary world of the minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. With a focus on Amos, Jonah, Zephaniah and Malachi in particular, we will discuss the importance of these texts, question how to make sense of them, and better understand the significance of minor prophetic literature in our world today. Minor prophetic texts are an understudied and often misunderstood… 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? Over the course of the day, we will try to discover a spirituality of space in our own stories, in religious architecture, in art, poetry, and theology. There has been a renewed interest recently in the theology of place. But arguably Christians… 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. 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,… Read more
Liturgy as Pastoral Care: Lockdown and Beyond
Through a mixture of liturgical theology and the sharing of pastoral practice, we will consider the ways in which the regular, routine worship of our church, as well as the distinctly ‘pastoral’ Offices, can be transformative in the lives of both regular churchgoers and those whom we meet in our pastoral ministry. When this course was originally conceived a year ago, we were already convinced that our regular, routine liturgical life has the potential to transform the lives of those… 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
The Church as a Hub for Health and Healing
Lockdown and the effects of the pandemic have left in their wake deeply traumatised individuals and communities who live with ongoing uncertainty. In what ways can the church be a place of healing? How can leaders, both lay and ordained, build confidence in developing ministries that bring hope and health, and do so as part of their mission? Building on clear theological and missiological foundations, Gillian will offer participants teaching in both the theory and practice, with time to reflect… Read more
Emotional Toll of Care: From Breakdown to Breakthrough
This workshop is part of the “Emotional Toll of Care” series which offers space to think about and engage with the impact on practitioners working on the frontlines of human suffering and vulnerability, often with limited resources. In From Breakdown to Breakthrough, we will explore the differences between stress and burnout and learn together to recognise the characteristics of these two different conditions. We will think about our own reactions to stress and what might make us vulnerable to burn… Read more
Teach Us How to Pray: Poetry and Prayer
Prayer is not something that we always know how to do, or how to do ‘well’. In times of crisis or uncertainty, trying to pray can feel like descending into chaos. Looking forward to Advent as a time of prayer and reflection, this day turns to the poets to teach us how to pray. True prayer is something that we do with our whole selves: through silence, stillness and the movement of our bodies, in our breath, in our cries 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 (limit of 5 places) to those not on the degree programme, who are… 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
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
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 half-day course 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 wife… 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
Introduction to the Enneagram
The Enneagram is an ancient, extraordinarily accurate, model of human personality and spirit. Book your place 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.… Read more
February 2021
Mass Culture: Theological Engagement and Spiritual Practice
This module considers the phenomenon of mass culture as that which approximates to the actual ‘lived culture’ of millions of people today. The module will explore and discuss topics such as changing patterns of leisure and travel in today’s world as well as technological and media mediated culture which forms the backdrop to spirituality and ‘doing’ theology in our age. In this respect modern mass culture frequently mimics religious modes of orchestrating emotion and creating identity while at the same… 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
Theology and Film
This module explores the growing field of theology and film. Students will become conversant in the language and history of cinema, noting specifically the unique ways in which film uses technology, editing, framing, and sound to convey meaning. After a brief introduction to film studies, students will then explore the historical relationship between theology and film, with specific reference to the reception (ranging from prohibition to utilisation) of film by the Christian Churches. We will spend time looking at and studying… 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
Sexuality and Spirituality
This module offers methodological tools to engage with a study of sexuality and spirituality. We will explore how the Christian tradition has engaged with sexuality and spirituality and the impact of that engagement on contemporary debates. Students are encouraged to relate these insights to their own experience and to evaluate critically the current theological and spiritual concerns in matters of sexuality. There are auditor spaces set aside for those not enrolled in a degree programme. What does this mean? Please… 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
