About us
Mission statement
Through relationships and by listening to voices from different places, we strive to create an inclusive, creative research process, which links up theory, experience, reflection and action.
Based on a Christian concern for those affected by poverty and marginalisation, we are committed to finding and opening up new spaces for dialogue.
The William Temple Foundation:
- was created to take forward the concern of Archbishop William Temple (1881-1944) for a coherent engagement between the churches and the economy, working life and international relations;
- was founded in 1947 as a theological college working with lay people to relate Christian faith to the realities of the post-war secular world;
- is now ecumenical in staffing, structure and work patterns.
Our core concerns:
- strengthening and developing the churches' theology and practice in their engagement with economics, working life and urban communities through original research and training;
- developing local, regional and national networks to share experience, thinking and practice models;
- seeking to influence the structures of church and society in solidarity with those who are marginalised and disadvantaged by economic and political policies and social trends.
Staff
See also
Christopher Baker, Director of Research at the William Temple Foundation, joined the Foundation staff in September 2001. He has a strong background in ecumenical work, and was co-founder of the Well Community in Milton Keynes, working on issues of race and asylum seekers. He has recently been awarded a Doctorate at Manchester University in urban theology and teaches part-time at both the University and the Theological Education Partnership at Luther King House. Publications by Christopher Baker.
John Atherton was until the end of 2004 Canon Theologian at Manchester Cathedral. He continues to be an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester. His association with the Foundation goes back many decades including a period in the 70s when he worked with David Jenkins for the Foundation. John is an established and renowned publisher on social ethics, Christian political economy, marginalisation and Public Theology. His future work and research will continue to feed into the overall programme of the Foundation for the next few years.
Debbie Concagh is a Administrator for the Foundation who joined us in April 2007. She comes with over 16 years of administrative experience, which has been gained in a wide range of public and private sector settings.
Jonathan Miles-Watson joined the William Temple Foundation, in the capacity of research fellow, in 2007. His work, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, will focus on exploring concepts of Religious and Spiritual Capital. He previously worked as a lecturer in Anthropology at Swansea University and in the department of Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. He is also an honorary research fellow and occasional lecturer at the University of Manchester and a fellow of the British Academy’s Society for Asian Studies.
Alison Peacock is a Research Associate who has worked for the European Contact Group. Trained in adult education, she contributes in a freelance capacity to WTF and other programmes in the North-West.
John Reader is a priest-in-charge of Chelford in the Diocese of Chester and also Rural Officer for the Diocese. He is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Welsh National Centre for Religious Education based at the University of Wales, Bangor and also an Honorary Research Fellow with the Department of Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester and a research Associate with the William Temple Foundation. In addition he is Senior Tutor for the Diploma in Christian Rural and Environmental Studies based at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford. Diploma in Christian Rural and Environmental Studies.
Hannah Skinner 2003-2007. Her role involved briefing the Church of England and other denominations on economic issues. She also contributed to the Foundation's core work and research programme. Publications by Hannah Skinner.
Ian Steedman was educated in London, Cambridge and Manchester and has been a Professor of Economics at both Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan University. He has a long-standing involvement in (micro) economic theory, in the history of economic thought and in the intersections among economics, ethics and social thought and has published extensively in these fields. His current work includes the study of "happiness" and its relation to welfare economics. Publications by Ian Steedman.
John Atherden, Finance Officer, completes the team.
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