1/2 Great to have the company of our trustee & Regius Professor of Divinity, David Fergusson, who joined Westcott students recently for their first Bar Theology of term. Asking the question ‘should we want to live forever’, there was a lively & broad discussion on death & the concept of a good life.

Lovely to be joined at this week’s worship by guest preacher, Canon Lynda Davies, Rector of All Saints, Cottenham & Diocesan Advisor for Women’s Ministry. Anticipating the 2nd Sunday before Advent, Lynda encouraged us to ask ourselves, ‘Who is speaking in the wilderness today, and are we listening?’

Starting Jan 2026, Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian Tradition, builds on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius. Led by Dr Sr Gemma Simmonds, Senior Fellow at MBIT, this course explores key writings, different forms of prayer, ethics, culture & more. Info: scan QR/visit https://ow.ly/vnEm50XegOU

Great to see our colleague and Academic Dean, Dr Karen O’Donnell present the Annual Multifaith Chaplaincy Lecture at Oxford Brookes University earlier this month. Exploring trauma, theology, and the paradox of forgiveness, Karen’s lecture is available to watch here: buff.ly/dhB0ZjO

At tonight’s Community Eucharist, as we anticipated the First Sunday of Advent, Dr Jenny Leith encouraged us to consider whether God’s judgement is to be feared or to be welcomed, and how we are to prepare for it.

As we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King at this week’s All-Age Community Eucharist, our Academic Dean, Karen, encouraged us in her sermon to remember that Christ is the King who confounds our expectations.

Yesterday as a community we held a short prayer vigil in chapel in anticipation of today’s Transgender Day of Remembrance. To those we have lost, we will remember them.

Wonderful to gather for Fed Worship on Monday with friends from across the CTF as we held a joint Choral Evensong co-led with Ridley Hall, & to enjoy fellowshipping together afterwards. The choir were amazing, special thanks to them & all involved in the service. 📷thanks to Charlotte and Edward!

Westcott House is currently recruiting for a Chef de Partie to join their catering team. If you are seeking a rewarding work environment within a welcoming community, check out our website for further info and job description: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/about-us/work-with-us/chef-de-partie/

1/2 We felt very blessed tonight to be joined by alumna and Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, the Rt Revd Joanne Grenfell, who preached at our Community Eucharist.

Join Dr Eleni Ponirakis, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House, for this short course in Celtic and Medieval Spirituality which examines the relationships between spirituality, theology, science, literature, art & more in Celtic and medieval thought. Scan QR for info/visit: https://ow.ly/EbQS50XeiPH

Join Dr Eleni Ponirakis, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House, for this short course in Celtic and Medieval Spirituality which examines the relationships between spirituality, theology, science, literature, art & more in Celtic and medieval thought. Scan QR for info/visit: https://ow.ly/EbQS50XeiPH

Preaching at our Community Eucharist last night, it was good to welcome the Revd Andrew Hurst. As we gathered to mark Remembrance Sunday, Andrew’s sermon was thoughtful, realistic and full of hope whilst also recognising the painful realities of war. #RemembranceSunday #Remembrance #LestWeForget

Interested in engaging with Ignatian spirituality for the first time or to deepen your own practice? Led by Dr Sr Gemma Simmonds, Senior Fellow at MBIT, our short course Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian Tradition explores theory, practice & more. Full info: scan QR/visit https://ow.ly/vnEm50XegOU

At this week’s Community Eucharist as we mark All Souls', Revd Jennifer Totney, explored Jesus’ words in John 6 through the experience of accompanying those who are grieving.

Exploring a vocation to ordained ministry? Why not register a place at our online Open Evening for ordinands to find out more about training, formation & community life at Westcott House. Scan the QR to book or visit: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

We were delighted to welcome back four of our alumni earlier this week to celebrate the launch of their collaborate book In the Sacred Pause, and to reflect on how faith, presence, & Christian worship might speak into lives touched by trauma. Full article can be found on our website: buff.ly/aTMzlu0

At tonight’s Community Eucharist as we marked ‘Bible Sunday’ our Vice Principal, Revd Rachel Rosborough, explored how we approach the bible and what it is for – how we read and hear it, how we mark and learn from it, and how we digest it so that we discover the life offered by God.

New Court garden @westcotthousecam.bsky.social transformed into a carpet of leaves - autumn has arrived!

At our Community Eucharist this week, as we anticipated the 18th Sunday after Trinity, our Lecturer in New Testament, Dr Julia Snyder, invited us to consider God’s concern for justice in her sermon which reflected on the Gospel of Luke (18.1-8).

Discover more about training, formation & community life at Westcott House at our upcoming online Open Evening for ordinands. If you're exploring a vocation to ordained ministry, come join us - we'd love to meet you! Scan QR to book or https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

At the end of a busy induction period, it was a joy to come together for worship at last week’s Community Eucharist. It was also good to hear from our Director of Practical Theology and Mission, Dr Julian Gotobed, who preached from Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7 as we anticipated the 17th Sunday after Trinity.

Join us at 7pm on 21 October for a book celebration event! In the Sacred Pause, published in July, was written by four (very) recent alumni whilst ordinands at Westcott House. Now Deacons & Priests in the CofE, they’ll be returning to talk about the book, the process of putting this together & more.

Today we held our termly Quiet Day. Led in-house by our Lecturer in Old Testament, Revd Dr Naomi Wormell, we read Psalms 148, 67 and 97 together, reflecting on their imagery & language through the use of artistic, active and reading activities to engage with God and capture the sense of the psalms.

Discover more about training, formation for ministry and independent study at Westcott House by joining one of our 2025/26 Open Days or online Open Evenings. We’d love to hear from you! More info: scan QR below or visit: https://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/news/2025-26-open-days-evenings/

It’s the weekend & over the next two days Westcott House Cambridge we’ll be welcoming the arrival of our returning and new ordinands & students, partners and families. We're looking forward to re-forming together again as a community as we prepare for the new academic year. Welcome to Westcott!

Delighted to see some of our 2023 & 2024 Leavers’ earlier this week, back for our Curacy Residential. Exploring the theme of The Sacraments and Our Sound, it was wonderful to have them back for a few days. Huge thanks to Dr Vicky Johnson, Dean of Chapel, St John’s, for leading our residential.

1/2 As we focus attention to the start of the new academic year, it was great to welcome attachment supervisors for a session run jointly with Ridley Hall last week. We thanked them for their valuable work and explored how we can best work together to provide a fruitful experience for ordinands.

Come join us for our short course introducing the traditions of Christian Spirituality East and West. Led by Dr Flo O’Taylor, students will study desert spirituality, monasticism, icons, mysticism, sacramentality, activism and contemplation & much more. To register, scan QR or visit: buff.ly/B1WcNT0

Our final Associate Supervisor intro is Dr Florence O’Taylor, Associate Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Westcott & William Leech Post-Doc Research Fellow, St John’s College, Durham University. Flo’s research specialises in Political Theology, Simone Weil & Addiction Theology: buff.ly/dA9YkUD

This week brings the two final Associate Supervisor intros in our series. First is Dr David Muir whose research interests include Public & Political Theology, Black Theology and African & Caribbean Churches, Nietzsche & Existentialism. More info on David's other research areas in bio buff.ly/3orXid1

Our next Associate Supervisor introduction this week is Revd Dr Benjamin Aldous, Principal Officer for Mission and Evangelism at Church Together in England (CTE). Ben’s areas of research include mission, ecumenism, Asian and intercultural theologies, amongst others: buff.ly/vXPwXsc

Dr Rostislav Tkachenko launches our penultimate week of Associate Supervisor intros. Senior Research Fellow at Eastern European Institute of Theology and Lecturer at the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, find out more about Rostislav’s main research focus & interests: buff.ly/kFV3NZk

Led by Dr Flo O’Taylor, Associate Lecturer at Westcott House and featuring lectures taught by a range of specialists in the field, our short course in Christian Spirituality East & West introduces its traditions, exploring themes such as desert spirituality, monasticism, icons & more buff.ly/B1WcNT0

Dr Rebecca Watson's our second Associate Supervisor being introduced this week. Tutor in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and Director of Studies at ERMC, Rebecca’s areas of expertise span Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Psalms, the relation between biblical and Canaanite religion, & more: buff.ly/JtAgEqr

A new week and two more Associate Supervisor intros! First is Dr Jon Phelan, College Lecturer, Fellow & Director of Studies in Philosophy at Homerton, where he also directs studies in Theology, Religion and the Philosophy of Religion. Learn more about Jon’s research interests in bio: buff.ly/UF27UpA

Looking for a new challenge, or perhaps seeking to build on or deepen your understanding of Christian Spirituality & Theology? Registration for our 2025/26 short courses is open. We offer a range of modules, taught as part of our ARU MAs, but which are open to everyone. More details: buff.ly/tC38R3N

Ordinands have a variety of opportunities to experience & engage with parishes/ministry work overseas & within the Anglican Communion during their training at Westcott. First year ordinand, Sebastian, reflects back on his time spent on placement at the Delhi Brotherhood House: buff.ly/fnUwsxJ

Always wonderful to hear news of our alumni. Warmest congratulations to the Most Revd Cherry Vann, Bishop of Monmouth, who has been elected the 15th Archbishop of Wales. Our prayers for this next chapter in your ministry.

Dr Emma Swai is up next in our intro series. An educator for over two decades, her research interests look at the portrayal of disability in New Testament writings, linguistic analysis of ecclesiastical texts and positionality & interpretation. More info about Emma’s research in bio: buff.ly/kNk2CXB

Hello August! As we welcome the new month, the next Associate Supervisor in our series to be introduced is Dr Paul Moore who has been studying & researching biblical/para-biblical language and literature for over twenty-six years. More about Paul's current research interests in bio: buff.ly/fX5bc92

Our second intro this week is Prof. Peter Kevern. In his role as Professor of Values in Health and Social Care at the University of Staffordshire, Peter combines teaching and researching along with academic leadership in the University. Learn more about his core research in bio: buff.ly/6J0NKTv

As July draws to a close it brings with it two more Associate Supervisor intros! First is Revd Canon Dr Philip Hobday, Sub-Dean of Wakefield Cathedral. Philip’s research areas include Christian Doctrine, Early & Reformation Church History, Anglican Identity, Faith & Politics. Bio: buff.ly/ZBBh2K5

Today the Church of England commemorates Brooke Foss Westcott, former Bishop of Durham. We give thanks for this respected scholar, educator & bishop who was our founding President. His vision for clergy education continues to guide us as we work to serve the church by resourcing people for ministry.

Seeking a rewarding work environment within a welcoming community? Westcott House is currently advertising for a Catering Manager, Assistant Chef and Catering Assistant to join their friendly staff team. Further details and job descriptions are available from our website: buff.ly/EovOX0f

Second up this week in our Associate Supervisor intro series is Dr Ryan Collman. His primary research interests focus on reading the New Testament within Judaism and the Apostle Paul. More on Ryan’s other areas of research in bio: buff.ly/Id4gPca

Continuing our intros, next up is Revd Canon Dr Gale Richards. Part-time regional minister for the Eastern Baptist Association, & honorary Ecumenical Canon at Ely Cathedral, Gale’s research specialises in womanist & practical theologies, ecclesiology, & congregational studies. Bio: buff.ly/8wk9bYG

Our second Associate Supervisor to be introduced this week is Dr Claire Williams. Lecturer in Practical Theology and liberation at Regents Theological College, Malvern, Claire’s areas of research include autism, neurodivergent, and feminist theologies, amongst others: buff.ly/0LOJlhS

Another week & more Associate Supervisors to be introduced! First is Dr Alastair Lockhart, Fellow of Churchill College and Quondam Fellow & Director of Studies for Theology, Religion & Philosophy of Religion at Hughes Hall, Cambridge. Info on Alastair's research interests in bio: buff.ly/WFYp4oT

Dr Emily Gathergood's next in the spotlight whose research focuses on early Christian conceptualisations of the body, healthcare & disability. Her award-winning book (forthcoming) The Midwifery of God explores divinity, maternity & pain in the NT & other early Christian writings. Bio buff.ly/JKRlwac