About Us
Meet the Team
The Oxford Pastorate is a Christian charity here to serve all postgraduate students, whatever their cultural background or faith commitments. We hope to offer a warm welcome to postgraduates from across the globe, helping new arrivals to feel at home in Oxford.
The offer of friendship is at the heart of everything the Oxford Pastorate does. We have an international team of chaplains who enjoy connecting with new people and are available for coffee and conversation offering a listening ear as you settle into Oxford life. All our chaplains have been postgraduate students and can support you during times of personal upheaval and help you to navigate your way through academic challenges. We are committed to creating a safe and caring space for all; you can read our safeguarding policy here.
We are also here to help postgraduates explore the bigger questions in life and look beyond the academic sphere. Whatever your questions about life or faith we would love to discuss them with you. Email us individually at the email links below our photos or send an email to chaplains@oxfordpastorate.org and we'll get back to you.
The Oxford Pastorate is a Christian charity here to serve all postgraduate students, whatever their cultural background or faith commitments. We hope to offer a warm welcome to postgraduates from across the globe, helping new arrivals to feel at home in Oxford.
The offer of friendship is at the heart of everything the Oxford Pastorate does. We have an international team of chaplains who enjoy connecting with new people and are available for coffee and conversation offering a listening ear as you settle into Oxford life. All our chaplains have been postgraduate students and can support you during times of personal upheaval and help you to navigate your way through academic challenges. We are committed to creating a safe and caring space for all; you can read our safeguarding policy here.
We are also here to help postgraduates explore the bigger questions in life and look beyond the academic sphere. Whatever your questions about life or faith we would love to discuss them with you. Email us individually at the email links below our photos or send an email to chaplains@oxfordpastorate.org and we'll get back to you.
Team
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Alissa Moore-Williams
— Read BioAlissa Ayako Moore-Williams is coordinator of the Developing a Christian Mind Conferences and serves as an InterVarsity/Link missionary to postgraduate students in the U.K. In 2009 Alissa co-founded Nomi Network, an international anti-human trafficking non-profit, and served as their Chief Operating Officer, helping the organization create economic opportunities for thousands of women in Asia. She lived for over a decade in New York City and studied theatre and American studies at Skidmore College. (Alissa is currently on maternity leave)
Alissa Ayako Moore-Williams is coordinator of the Developing a Christian Mind Conferences and serves as an InterVarsity/Link missionary to postgraduate students in the U.K. In 2009 Alissa co-founded Nomi Network, an international anti-human trafficking non-profit, and served as their Chief Operating Officer, helping the organization create economic opportunities for thousands of women in Asia. She lived for over a decade in New York City and studied theatre and American studies at Skidmore College. (Alissa is currently on maternity leave)
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Bethan Willis
— Read BioBethan Willis joined the Pastorate team in 2014 and is now an Associate Chaplain. In recent years she has headed up programmes for the Oxford Character Project, held a non-residential fellowship from the University of Connecticut’s Humility and Conviction programme and worked with charities and the Diocese of Oxford on projects engaging churches with social justice issues. Bethan did her PhD at the University of Exeter on the theology of Miroslav Volf and post-conflict justice in the Balkans. In her spare time Bethan enjoys volunteering with community projects and embarking on mini adventures with her husband and four children
Bethan Willis joined the Pastorate team in 2014 and is now an Associate Chaplain. In recent years she has headed up programmes for the Oxford Character Project, held a non-residential fellowship from the University of Connecticut’s Humility and Conviction programme and worked with charities and the Diocese of Oxford on projects engaging churches with social justice issues. Bethan did her PhD at the University of Exeter on the theology of Miroslav Volf and post-conflict justice in the Balkans. In her spare time Bethan enjoys volunteering with community projects and embarking on mini adventures with her husband and four children
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Christopher Landau
— Read BioThe Revd Dr Christopher Landau joined the Pastorate as McDonald Chaplain in 2018, alongside his role as pastor to postgraduate students at St Aldates church in Oxford. A journalist prior to ordination, Christopher worked as a Radio 4 news reporter and TV News producer at the BBC, latterly as World Service religious affairs correspondent. During ordination training he resumed theological study, working on Christian Ethics, and was awarded his doctorate in 2017, titled ‘A theology of disagreement’. An honorary chaplain of Christ Church Cathedral, he values the pursuit of Christian unity across church traditions. He is married to Carolyn; their young family means being asleep at 6:30am feels like a lie-in.
The Revd Dr Christopher Landau joined the Pastorate as McDonald Chaplain in 2018, alongside his role as pastor to postgraduate students at St Aldates church in Oxford. A journalist prior to ordination, Christopher worked as a Radio 4 news reporter and TV News producer at the BBC, latterly as World Service religious affairs correspondent. During ordination training he resumed theological study, working on Christian Ethics, and was awarded his doctorate in 2017, titled ‘A theology of disagreement’. An honorary chaplain of Christ Church Cathedral, he values the pursuit of Christian unity across church traditions. He is married to Carolyn; their young family means being asleep at 6:30am feels like a lie-in.
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Claire Shuttleworth
— Read BioClaire Shuttleworth is the Administrator/Office manager for the Oxford Pastorate. She studied English literature and theology at Oxford Brookes University and undertook postgraduate study at King's College, London. She has worked in a variety of roles in Oxford including academic publishing for Wiley-Blackwell.
Claire Shuttleworth is the Administrator/Office manager for the Oxford Pastorate. She studied English literature and theology at Oxford Brookes University and undertook postgraduate study at King's College, London. She has worked in a variety of roles in Oxford including academic publishing for Wiley-Blackwell.
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David Williams
— Read BioDavid Williams joined the team in 2020 as an Associate Chaplain on loan to the Oxford Pastorate from InterVarsity/USA. Before moving to Oxford, David served as the team leader for InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries at New York University, directing their graduate, law, medical, and international student ministries from 2013 to 2018. David has earnedmasters degrees in Biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and Duke Divinity School, and is currently pursuing an DPhil in Christian Ethics at Oxford University comparing the theologies of higher education of Friedrich Schleiermacher, John Henry Newman, and Abraham Kuyper. David is married to another member of the Oxford Pastorate team, Alissa Moore-Williams, and together they enjoy hosting meals for postgraduates in their home.
David Williams joined the team in 2020 as an Associate Chaplain on loan to the Oxford Pastorate from InterVarsity/USA. Before moving to Oxford, David served as the team leader for InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries at New York University, directing their graduate, law, medical, and international student ministries from 2013 to 2018. David has earnedmasters degrees in Biblical studies from Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and Duke Divinity School, and is currently pursuing an DPhil in Christian Ethics at Oxford University comparing the theologies of higher education of Friedrich Schleiermacher, John Henry Newman, and Abraham Kuyper. David is married to another member of the Oxford Pastorate team, Alissa Moore-Williams, and together they enjoy hosting meals for postgraduates in their home.
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Jonathan Brant
— Read BioThe Revd Dr Jonathan Brant has been the Oxford Pastorate Chaplain since 2008. He has overall responsibility for leading the team in serving the postgraduate community. He wrote a DPhil in Theology at Trinity College, Oxford which drew upon systematic theology, film theory and qualitative research in considering the potential religious impact of contemporary Latin American cinema. The monograph has been published by Oxford University Press. Prior to coming to Oxford, Jonathan worked for Anglican churches in London and South America. Jonathan is the award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction books which introduce young people to the joys and the mysteries of the Christian faith. He is married to Tricia and has a teenage son, Isaac.
The Revd Dr Jonathan Brant has been the Oxford Pastorate Chaplain since 2008. He has overall responsibility for leading the team in serving the postgraduate community. He wrote a DPhil in Theology at Trinity College, Oxford which drew upon systematic theology, film theory and qualitative research in considering the potential religious impact of contemporary Latin American cinema. The monograph has been published by Oxford University Press. Prior to coming to Oxford, Jonathan worked for Anglican churches in London and South America. Jonathan is the award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction books which introduce young people to the joys and the mysteries of the Christian faith. He is married to Tricia and has a teenage son, Isaac.
The Oxford Pastorate Council
The team are supported in their work by the Trustees and Council Members who have overall responsibility for the administration and work of the charitable trust. The Chair of the Pastorate Council is Ewan McKendrick, Professor of English Private Law and a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall. He was also the Registrar of the University of Oxford from 2011 to 2018. The other three Trustees are all Senior Members of Oxford University while the larger Council is a more diverse group composed of academics, the Rectors of the four historically evangelical Anglican churches of Oxford, the Principal of Wycliffe Hall and others who have particular gifts or expertise which they are willing to exercise in support of the Pastorate's activities.
The team are supported in their work by the Trustees and Council Members who have overall responsibility for the administration and work of the charitable trust. The Chair of the Pastorate Council is Ewan McKendrick, Professor of English Private Law and a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall. He was also the Registrar of the University of Oxford from 2011 to 2018. The other three Trustees are all Senior Members of Oxford University while the larger Council is a more diverse group composed of academics, the Rectors of the four historically evangelical Anglican churches of Oxford, the Principal of Wycliffe Hall and others who have particular gifts or expertise which they are willing to exercise in support of the Pastorate's activities.
History
At the end of the nineteenth century the spiritual condition of England’s universities was at low ebb. In Oxford, a number of prominent Anglican clergy and laymen were burdened to do their part to address this crisis. Under Bishop F.J. Chavasse, they planned a new, unofficial, extra-collegiate chaplaincy, The Oxford Evangelical Pastorate.
Founded in 1893, the Pastorate’s ministry has always been relational, seeking positive Christian influence on individuals and small groups. However, the Pastorate has also been involved in some of the most important Christian initiatives in Oxford. In 1941 a Pastorate Chaplain, Stella Aldwinckle, facilitated the foundation of The Socratic Club, inviting C. S. Lewis to be the first president of what was, perhaps, the most vibrant forum for religious debate in twentieth-century Oxford. For much of the twentieth century St Aldate’s Church was the base for the Pastorate’s ministry with the Revd Dr Michael Green leading a team of chaplains in hugely effective evangelistic ministry through the 1970s and 80s.
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, one of the biggest changes at Oxford University has been the growth in the postgraduate student body from around two thousand to ten thousand, more than half of the total number of students being matriculated each year. The postgraduate community is now one of the most vibrant, variegated and dynamic groups in Oxford and it is these women and men the Pastorate now serves.
At the end of the nineteenth century the spiritual condition of England’s universities was at low ebb. In Oxford, a number of prominent Anglican clergy and laymen were burdened to do their part to address this crisis. Under Bishop F.J. Chavasse, they planned a new, unofficial, extra-collegiate chaplaincy, The Oxford Evangelical Pastorate.
Founded in 1893, the Pastorate’s ministry has always been relational, seeking positive Christian influence on individuals and small groups. However, the Pastorate has also been involved in some of the most important Christian initiatives in Oxford. In 1941 a Pastorate Chaplain, Stella Aldwinckle, facilitated the foundation of The Socratic Club, inviting C. S. Lewis to be the first president of what was, perhaps, the most vibrant forum for religious debate in twentieth-century Oxford. For much of the twentieth century St Aldate’s Church was the base for the Pastorate’s ministry with the Revd Dr Michael Green leading a team of chaplains in hugely effective evangelistic ministry through the 1970s and 80s.
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, one of the biggest changes at Oxford University has been the growth in the postgraduate student body from around two thousand to ten thousand, more than half of the total number of students being matriculated each year. The postgraduate community is now one of the most vibrant, variegated and dynamic groups in Oxford and it is these women and men the Pastorate now serves.
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March 2019
We host the first 'Catalysing Postgraduate Ministry across Europe' conference at New College
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September 2017
Partnership with the McDonald Agape Foundation provides funding for a McDonald Chaplain
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2014
The Templeton World Charity Foundation funds new projects on character and leadership
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2008
The Bishop of Oxford, John Pritchard, commissions Chaplains to work with postgraduates
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1981
The ministry thrives under the leadership of the Revd Dr Michael Green at St Aldate’s Church
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1941
The Pastorate starts the Socratic Club, inviting C. S. Lewis to be its first senior member
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1913
The first chaplain, Revd Henry Gibbon, welcomes 1,600 students into his home
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1893
The Oxford Evangelical Pastorate is founded at the instigation of Bishop F.J. Chavasse
