Ridley Hall, Cambridge

Latest News

Ridley welcomes Archbishop John Chew

Ridley was delighted to welcome the Most Revd John Chew, Bishop of Singapore and Archbishop of the Province of Southeast Asia, on November 19th, 2009. The Archbishop spent a fairly relaxed day in conversation with members of the College, later presenting a lecture in which he addressed the issue of “Why bother with the Anglican Communion?” He also preached at the weekly celebration of Holy Communion. This was Archbishop Chew’s second visit to Ridley in 2009, as he was here in the spring as a member of the Anglican Covenant Design Group that met here before Easter. 

Sustaining a Business Recovery

Faith in Business conference - March 26-28 2010

Bookings for the next Faith in Business conference will open in December.

Now is the time to get the dates in your diary for 'Sustaining a Business Recovery', which will be held at Ridley Hall, Cambridge on Friday March 26th to Sunday March 28th. See Faith in Business for more information, and details of how you can help spread the word to colleagues and friends who might be interested.

FEEL THE SPIRIT - new Gospel Choir CD

The aim of the Ridley Hall Gospel Choir has always been a simple one: to celebrate God through our music and to have fun doing so. The Choir has grown as more people from within and outside the Ridley community have caught the gospel music 'bug'. Through this newly available CD - 'Feel the Spirit' - they invite you to share in this musical community. To purchase a copy visit Ridley's online shop.

News From Ridley - Autumn issue online

The Autumn edition of News From Ridley can be downloaded here (pdf; 4MB). You need a copy of Adobe Reader to open the document. This can be downloaded for free from Adobe's website.

In this issue:

• "Bridges Out" - The Principal turns to the final part of Ridley's strap-lline "Roots down, walls down, bridges out" and explains his own identification with "bridges out" in mission (p 1)
• Restoring Prayer - Adrian Chatfield reflects on a conference which saw prayer restored and friendships renewed (p 2)
• Social Enterprise in Kenya - Richard Higginson shares insights from an eye-opening trip to Nairobi (p 3)
• Why Give to Ridley? - We look at how Ridley's income sources, and the needs they meet, have changed over the years (p 4)

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Ridley telephone numbers have changed

Ridley Hall has recently installed a new and improved telephone system. Some contact numbers for Ridley offices have now changed, including the main switchboard number for Ridley's Reception, which is now: 01223 746580

For contact details of our other main administrative offices see our Contact Us page. Telephone numbers for some academic staff have also changed. If you are having trouble contacting someone, please call the main Reception on 01223 746580 where we will be pleased to help.

‘Ask for the ancient paths’: Press Release

For immediate use

Restoring prayer – to the individual and to the life of the church – was the focus of the Simeon Centre conference at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, last week. Ridley is one of the Church of England’s theological colleges.

Keynote speaker, Eugene Peterson (The Message), took the book of Ephesians as his text to reclaim the language of prayer.  He was supported by Professor Alistair McGrath, Dr Paula Gooder and Revd Canon Anne Dyer.

The conference has been a long-awaited event at Ridley Hall, where the Simeon Centre for Prayer and the Spiritual Life is just starting its third year in existence. 

The dream of Ridley’s chaplain, Revd Jane Keiller, and Revd Adrian Chatfield, the Simeon Centre not only oversees the spiritual health of Ridley Hall and its students but, as demonstrated by the 300 conference attendees, reaches far beyond Cambridge to resource churches and communities in the UK and beyond.

For more details about the Simeon Centre, including how to order copies of the addresses contact Rosemary Kew at Ridley Hall on rak44@cam.ac.uk

New Fresh Expressions book by Ridley alumnus

Following the recent publication of Church Unplugged: Remodelling Church without losing your soul by Ridley Tutor David Male, and Night Vision by current student at the college, Jon Oliver, we are delighted to be giving you news of another Ridleian publication that aims to inspire those involved in fresh expressions of church around the country.

Through the Pilgrim Door, by Michael Volland (Ridley alumnus and author of God on the Beach), is written for those who are considering a new church plant or pioneering ministry – or those who are simply curious. It seeks to show "what can be done with a little finance and a whole lot of faith".

Michael left Ridley Hall in 2006 to take up a pioneer curacy at the cathedral in Gloucester, and has just been appointed to a new post as Director of Mission & Pioneer Ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. His book, which is due to be published next month, shares his experience of setting up a fresh expression in Gloucester, the 'Feig' Community.

CYM Centre Director appointed Team Rector

The Revd Dr Steve Griffiths has been appointed Team Rector at Linton, Cambs, with effect from 6 October 2009. Steve has been the Director of Youth Work Training at the Cambridge Centre for Youth Ministry (CYM) since 2005, having been associated with CYM for many years beforehand.

Over the years, Steve has made a very valuable contribution to Youth Work Training on many levels and we shall all greatly miss him. We offer him our warmest congratulations on his new appointment.

The C of E and Swine Flu - a reminder to clergy

In light of Department of Health advice during the current phase of the swine flu pandemic, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to Bishops in the Church of England recommending the suspension of the sharing of the chalice at communion.

The Archbishops’ letter follows advice from the Department of Health not to share “common vessels” for food or drink. For those who wish still to offer both bread and wine, the Archbishops have recommended use of “personal intinction by the presiding minister” allowing the priest to dip communion wafers in the chalice before handing them out to communicants. More details and the full text of the letter can be found on the Church of England website.

Award-winning radio series and Ridley’s Vice-Principal

Mike Thompson, Ridley's Vice-Principal, was the biblical consultant for the BBC Radio 4 drama series Witness, an episode of which recently won the Sanford St. Martin Premier Award for broadcasting excellence.

Episode 4 on the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, entitled 'Tested', won the Premier Award at Sanford St. Martin's second Religious Radio Awards announced June 1st at Lambeth Palace.

The five episode Witness series was written by Nick Warburton, an award-winning Cambridge author who has written for television and stage. First broadcast in 2007 and repeated in 2009, the series tells the story of Jesus' life and death based on the gospel of Luke. Inspired by Dorothy Sayers' The Man Born to Be King, the aim of Witness is not to reproduce the exact words from Luke, but to be imaginative and faithful in dramatising the gospel's message. As well as inspiring individuals, it could be very useful as a starting point for groups discussing Luke's story of Jesus.

Witness is available for purchase from BBC Audiobooks Ltd and can be found in select bookshops. To purchase through Amazon click on the link below. Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase to Ridley Hall.

Buy Witness audiobook now