The Revd Canon Anne Dyer - Warden Cranmer Hall

Anne gained a degree in Chemistry from St Anne’s College, Oxford, before working as a Business Systems Analyst. After her ordination in 1994, Anne held parish and chaplaincy appointments in the Rochester diocese until 1998 when she began work as the Ministry Development Officer for the diocese. Anne is married to Roger and they have a daughter, Millie. Anne’s interests include 19th century women’s history and spirituality, art, current affairs, gardening and making quilts.

0191 334 3866
a.c.dyer@durham.ac.uk

Dr Richard Briggs MA MA Phd Director of Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics

Richard survived a first degree in Mathematics and Philosophy at Oxford before turning to Theology. His PhD at the University of Nottingham was in hermeneutics, and was published as "Words in Action: Speech Act Theory and Biblical Interpretation" (T&T Clark, 2001). He helped lead an Anglican church plant while in Nottingham, preaches regularly, and has a background in cross-cultural mission work. He has written widely on the subject of biblical interpretation, including "Reading the Bible Wisely" (SPCK, 2003) and "The Virtuous Reader: Old Testament Narrative and Interpretive Virtue" (Baker Academic, 2010), and is currently working on the Two Horizons commentary on the book of Numbers. Richard is married to Melody, they have three lively children, and family hobbies include walking, cafes, curry, Dr Who, and games of Settlers of Catan.

0191 334 3872
richard.briggs@durham.ac.uk

Kate Bruce  Chaplain

Born on the Wirral, Kate studied at Leeds University before becoming a secondary school English teacher. She trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall and later studied for an MA through Cranmer. She served her curacy at Holy Trinity, Ripon and comes to St John’s from the post of Chaplain at Van Mildert and Trevelyan Colleges, and Associate Priest at St. Oswald’s Durham.

For the last four years Kate’s dog, Asher, has worked alongside her in her chaplaincy work with undergraduates – and has proven an invaluable asset. Asher recently passed her assessment with Pets as Therapy and is now formally registered to St John’s College as a P.A.T Dog. Asher likes walks and biscuits… as does Kate.

0191 3343851
kathrine.bruce2@durham.ac.uk

David Goodhew moved from York, where he was Vicar of St Oswald's Church, Fulford for seven years, to join the staff of Cranmer Hall in August 2008 as the Director of Ministerial Practice.  David has worked in Leeds, Bristol, Johannesburg and Cambridge.  He has a DPhil from Oxford and has published work on the growth of new congregations in the UK.  He is married to Lindsey, they met when they were both ordinands at Cranmer Hall, and they have two sons.

0191 334 3863
d.j.goodhew@durham.ac.uk

Michael Volland

Michael Volland, Director of Mission and Pioneer Ministry

Before moving to Durham in August this year, Michael worked as an Ordained Pioneer Minister on the staff of Gloucester Cathedral where he pioneered and led a fresh expression of church called 'feig' (www.feig.org.uk).  Michael's first book God on the Beach was published while he was still in training at theological college.  His second book, Through the Pilgrim Door: Pioneering A Fresh Expression of Church is due to be published this September.  Michael's first degree was in Fine Art. He has an MA in Theological Education and is currently studying for a doctorate. Married to Rachel (a teacher) they have three children and in his spare time he enjoys surfing. 

m.j.volland@durham.ac.uk

Medi Volpe, Director of Undergraduate Studies

I am from southern California, but moved east to pursue doctoral work at Duke University, where I worked with Stanley Hauerwas and began to develop my teaching skills at Duke Divinity School. In 2003, I began teaching at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Candler is a Methodist foundation with an ecumenical teaching staff and student body, including a significant proportion of Episcopalian students in training. While at Candler, I particularly enjoyed teaching the introduction to systematic theology, and also taught theology in the Methodist Course of Study, a non-residential training course for rural pastors seeking ordination in the United Methodist Church. My research focuses on identity and formation for Christian practice, and I am interested in the role of church and spirituality in faith formation. I am currently completing a book that examines accounts of Christian identity in the work of Rowan Williams, Kathryn Tanner and John Milbank, and brings them into conversation with Gregory of Nyssa.

Rev Dr Peter Phillips  Director of Research Centre for Biblical Literacy

Peter Phillips gained a degree in Latin and Greek at University College, Aberystwyth before moving to Bristol to train as a Methodist Minister.
While there he gained a PG Diploma in Theology and an MA in Biblical Studies from Bristol University. Having served for a number of years in a Methodist Circuit in the Midlands, Pete took up a teaching post at Cliff College in Derbyshire in 1995 and served as New Testament Tutor there for 13 years, also working on his PhD on the Prologue of John's Gospel from Sheffield University which he gained in 2004. An Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Manchester, in 2006 Pete gained a MEd in Teaching and Learning for Higher Education and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Teaching Academy in 2007. Pete is married to Theresa and they have three children. Passionate about mission, the Bible and teaching, his interests also include postmodernism, theology and arts, film and football.