planet narnia - lecture

In 2003 Michael Ward made a discovery. Many critics believe he has finally unlocked the secret meaning of C.S. Lewis’s famous Narnia stories. This became a book, Planet Narnia, which was profiled in a BBC 1 documentary at Easter 2009, called ‘The Narnia Code’. I blogged about the programme here.

The St Paul's Theological Centre Annual Lecture: Of interest to all who have read the Narnia books or watched the films, Dr Ward explains his discovery in a fascinating lecture he has given all over the world, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Dr Michael Ward is Chaplain of St Peter’s College Oxford, and one of the world’s leading experts on C.S. Lewis.

Venue: Holy Trinity Brompton
Time: 7.00 pm, Monday November 16 2009

Trivia: Did you know that Dr Ward's other claim to fame is that he handed a pair of X-ray spectacles to James Bond in the movie The World Is Not Enough.

Update: There is an excellent review of Planet Narnia by Bishop Tom Wright in the TLS here.

st mellitus college - new courses

Things have been very hectic at St Mellitus College (SMC) over the last eighteen months but the up side is that exciting new developments are beginning to come to fruition.

BEGINNING THEOLOGY is for anyone in the London area who wants to develop a greater understanding of their Christian faith, but it is particularly aimed at those who wish to use it as a basis for developing in Christian ministry and/or undertaking theological study at diploma or degree level. The course has been designed as an Access Course for diploma and degree level courses run by St Mellitus College. Students for whom English is not their first language will be able to take advantage of modules on English for Theological Purposes, delivered by specialist teachers. For further information please contact Revd Eileeen Lockhart access@ntmtc.org.uk .


COURSES IN THEOLOGY are now being offered at the St Paul's Theological Centre (SPTC). Building on the ministerial training programmes already offerd by SMC at North Thames Ministerial Training Course (NTMTC) and SPTC, this programme is open to independent students who can study at certificate, diploma and degree level. Students can opt for accredited or non accredited courses. Full details about the courses can be found here.

St Mellitus College

(The Psalm Drummers at St Paul's Cathedral)

Great occasion last night at St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate, commission and give thanks for St. Mellitus College. The service was led by the Bishops of London and Chelmsford and included a dramatic telling of the story of Mellitus, very powerful testimonies from two students, an excellent sermon from Bishop Richard and the commissioning of the Dean Graham Tomlin and the Assistant Deans David Hilborn and Andy Emerton. It was a privilege to be part of the service in my role as a member of staff and to see former and present students and others involved in the establishment of St Mellitus College. A highlight of the evening was the procession to the Great West Doors of the cathedral led by the Psalm Drummers.

St Mellitus College is a new kind of academy, which offers training in Christian theology, ministry and the relationship between theology and the whole of human life. It was founded in 2007 by Richard Chartres and John Gladwin, the Anglican Bishops of London and Chelmsford. It is focussed in London and Essex – the dioceses of London and Chelmsford, although people come to study in the College from much further afield, and from all kinds of Christian churches.

At its heart, St Mellitus has two main parts, the North Thames Ministerial Training Course, which was set up in 1991 and the St Paul’s Theological Centre, which began in 2005.

Alongside the teaching that happens at its centre, the College also aims to bring together and co-ordinate many excellent resources around the region. Other training institutions and communities are joining St Mellitus as associate members, offering their teaching and resources as part of the College, for example: The Kensington Deanery Ministry Scheme and The Trinity Foundation for Christianity and Culture.

Please pray for the college, staff and students at this very exciting time.

The St Mellitus College Collect

God of grace and wisdom,
who called your servant Mellitus
to leave his home and proclaim your Word:
grant to all who belong to the college that bears his name
diligence for study, fervour for mission,
and perseverance for ministry,
that they might shine with your love and truth
in these dioceses and beyond,
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.