About us

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

Revd. Dr. 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.

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.

 

Research Staff

Greg Smith joined William Temple Foundation in June 2009 as an associate researcher. BA Mphil, formerly a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Institutional Studies, University of East London. Has 30 years experience as a 'reflective practitioner' in Christian urban ministry, faith linked community development and urban regeneration, in Newham, East London and Preston. Now community co-ordinator with the Salvation Army Open Door Project, Preston. He is also involved in capacity building for churches and voluntary groups, inter-faith networking and church-based children's work.

For further information about his work and publications see his website http://gregsmith.synthasite.com

Dr. Rana Jawad joined William Temple Foundation in September 2008 as an associate researcher. She is also a research fellow at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick. At William Temple, Rana is involved in a Leverhulme-funded project on spiritual and religious capital. Her main area of research is the role of religion in relation to social policy and social welfare. She has particular expertise on Islam and the region of the Middle East. She is currently researching the implications of the UK's welfare reform act for the increased involvement of faith groups in social welfare provision. Rana is also treasurer of the Social Policy Association (www.social-policy.com). Publications by Rana Jawad.

Dr. Jonathan Miles-Watson 2007-2008. 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.

Hannah Skinner 2003-2006. 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.

 

Senior Research Fellows

Revd. Canon Dr. 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. Publications by John Atherton

Revd. Dr. John Reader John is now Rector of the Ironstone Benefice (8 rural churches in North Oxfordshire) having served most of his ordained ministry in rural parishes. A Practical Theologian, he has published books on Local Theology, Blurred Encounters and Reconstructing Practical Theology in the light of globalization. He is also one of the Senior Tutors for the Christian Rural Environmental Studies course based at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. Diploma in Christian Rural and Environmental Studies.

Professor 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.

Bishop Stephen Lowe Trained as an economist before ordination Stephen has served in urban parishes in Birmingham and Newham before becoming Archdeacon of Sheffield. After his appointment as Bishop of Hulme he was heavily involved in the production of the report Faithful Citiies and the Archbishops asked him to become the Church of England's first full time Bishop for Urban Life and Faith, a post he took up in November 2006.

 

John Atherden, Finance Officer, completes the team.