Ridley Hall, Cambridge

Ridley People: Teaching Staff

The Reverend Ali Walton

Ali looks after the teaching of Pastoral Studies and helps with the organisation of the different placements students do. She has served as curate, Associate Priest and Vicar in a number of different parishes.

Ali’s MPhil looks at two methods of Christian counselling, Nouthetic Counselling by Jay Adams and Clinical Theology by Frank Lake, and examines how two methods of counselling, both of which are rooted in scripture, can be so very different. This expresses her concern in pastoral theology and pastoral studies which is to engage with pastoral practice in a way which is scriptural, theological, rigorous and transformative of both oneself and ministry.

Her vision and passion in training students for ministry is to provide students with a framework and tools of biblical understanding, an ability to analyse church and cultural contexts and growth in self-awareness in order to be effective ministers (whether lay or ordained) of the gospel in the contemporary world. All of this is rooted in Ali’s experience as a parish priest.
Ali is married to Steve. Together they enjoy trips to the cinema, eating out and exploring new areas. Ali also re-energises by walking their dog, reading and doing embroidery.