Dr Christine Gore, Principal

Originally from Southport in Lancashire, I went to university in Edinburgh to study Genetics, followed by a PhD in the Department of Genetics at Glasgow University. It was while I was studying in Glasgow that I decided that God was calling me to work full time for the church. Consequently, after finishing my PhD I went to the local Bible College to study Theology. From there I worked with a para-church organisation, teaching and mentoring students in the Christian Unions in the Scottish Universities. After three years, I moved to London to co-ordinate the student ministry in a large city centre church. A growing desire to teach in theological education led me into yet more study (!) and then on to teaching and training evangelists for the Church of England with the Church Army. I have been Principal at YMC since September 2008 and my teaching area is Biblical Studies. Hobbies include photography, singing, films, walking and my garden (I love being outdoors!).

Suggested Reading - Biblical Studies

• Introduction to Biblical Studies by Steve Moyise (Cassell 1998)
• An Invitation to the Bible by Stephen Barton (SPCK 1997)
• Reading the Bible Wisely by Richard Briggs (SPCK 2003)
• The Grove Booklet Biblical series Grove Books is also a very useful series.

Dr Ken Farrimond, Director of Studies                  

 I joined the YMC in 2008 as Director of Studies, shared with the College of the Resurrection, where I have worked since 1997.  Prior to this I worked for the Church in Uganda, initially as a diocesan youth worker and then developing a programme of lay education for collaborative ministry.  I read physics at Hertford College, Oxford and studied theology and church history at Trinity College, Bristol before undertaking doctoral research at the University of Leeds on the Church Missionary Society and the formation of self-governing indigenous churches in the early twentieth century.  I currently teach Pastoral Theology and Church History.  I am a member of the Yale-Edinburgh on the History of the Missionary Movement and Non-Western Christianity which llinks with my research interest in the history of mission and contemporary missiology.  I am also interested in approaches to theological reflection, as well as emerging forms of worship.  I am married to Sarah, and we have two children.

  

 Rev'd Tim Evans, Director of Pastoral Studies      

In January 2009 I joined the staff of the YMC after 11 years as a parish priest in Cumbria and Vice-Principal of the Lancashire and Cumbria Theological Partnership, (the equivalent course to the YMC in the north west) where I taught ethics, liturgy and pastoral studies.  I grew up in West London, where I gained an enduring love of Charles Wesley's hymns from my Methodist upbringing.  Following degrees in history (York) and politics (Sussex) and a year as a youth worker with the Methodist Church in Northumberland, I trained for ordination at Ridley Hall in Cambridge.  During my training I was able to work for a year at Lahore Cathedral in Pakistan as Lay Chaplain to the English speaking congregation there; it was also a wonderful opportunity and privilege to experience life in a Muslim country at first hand.  As well as nearly 22 years in parish ministry (in London and Lancashire, as well as Cumbria) I have also been a University Chaplain at Lancaster.  I now live on the west side of the Pennines (in Lancaster) with Mary, my wife, and our two children, but work on the east side, so have the best of both worlds.  In spite of prolonged residence in the north of England, I retain my first love - West Ham United football club.  Cooking, walking, reading and trying to play blues guitar take up my spare time.

Suggested Reading

• Wisdom and Ministry by Michael Sadgrove (SPCK)
• The Leadership of Jesus by John Adair (Canterbury Press 2001)
• In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen (DLT 1989)
• God-Shaped Mission by Alan Smith (Canterbury Press 2008)
 

Rev'd Dr Stephen Spencer, Tutor in Anglican Studies and Ethics

After studying theology at Oxford and completing a doctorate on the social thought of William Temple, I trained for ministry at Edinburgh Theological College. My curacy was in London and I then worked in Zimbabwe as a school chaplain and parish priest. Returning to England in 1999, I was vicar of Caton-with-Littledale in Blackburn Diocese and a tutor on the Carlisle and Blackburn course. I became a full time tutor with the Northern Ordination Course in 2003 and have been responsible for Methodist Foundation Training as well as being Director of Studies. With YMC I am now part-time Tutor in Anglican Studies and also teach Ethics. I am also Priest in Charge of the Brighouse and Clifton Team Ministry. My publicatioins include William Temple: A Calling to Prophecy (2002), SCM Studyguide to Christian Mission (2007) and a forthcoming SCM Studyguide to Anglicanism (2010). I live in Brighouse, my wife Sally is a Methodist Local Preacher and we have three children. I enjoy music, photography and walking.

Suggested Reading

• Christianity Rediscovered (SCM Classics) by Vincent Donovan
• The History of Christian Thought by Jonathan Hill
• Anglicanism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by Mark Chapman

 John Wigfield, Director of Pioneering Ministries

I grew up in the Holme Valley, near Huddersfield, before doing a degree in French and Liguistics/Phonetics followed by a PGCE in Modern Languages at Leeds University.  I subsequenly taught in secondary schools for 11 years in all.  My growing interest in mission led eventually to 2 years studying at All Nations Christian College, a specialist missionary training college, and then 2 years in a rural school in Zimbabwe as a volunteer teacher, along with Angela my wife.  I returned to All Nations to do a Masters degree in Missiology and then, with our 3 children, we joined the South American Mission Society (SAMS), spending 2 years with the Anglican Church in Chile, involved in theological education.  Most recently, I was Theological Co-ordinator and Resource Consultant for SAMS, working with the Anglican dioceses of Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the region of Joao Pessoa in North Eastern Brazil to devlop their theological education programmes.  I am currently completing a PhD with the University of Nottinghm, on a reading of the 'joint introduction' to the Psalter, Psalms 1 and 2.  I enjoy the hills and playing sport and guitar.  I am trying to get into gardening and to pass on to my children the 'creative tension' in the parental tradition I inherited of supporting Barnsley FC whilst being 'exiled' in West Yorkshire. 

Mrs Sandra Hawksworth, Academic Registrar

 

 

 

 

Rev'd Barbara Clarke, Administrator      

With a background in community development work and then teaching, my first involvement with NOC/YMC was as an ordinand for three years until my ordination in 2007. In addition to my admin role, I am also an Honorary Tutor with YMC. When I am not in the office at Mirfield I am the curate at St. Peter’s Addingham, in the Diocese of Bradford.

Mrs Debra Ward, Administrator

I joined the Northern Ordination Course in August 2007 after moving from Shropshire with my husband (who is a local parish priest). I have many years' experience of working within both the public and private sectors, including Local Government and FE institutions, as an administrator and personal assistant.