About

Carolyn is Tutor in Children’s and Family Ministry at Ridley Hall.  This role draws on her strategic gifts, her long experience of teaching, and her love for Children’s and Family mission and ministry. She is involved both in delivering Ridley Hall’s CYPF undergraduate programme, and in growing and developing its post-graduate provision in the field.

Her doctoral research on the fascinating question of children and holiness built on her master’s research about connecting boys with church, which led to her first book ‘‘Slugs and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ Tails: Helping Boys Connect with God’.  Carolyn is passionate about creating a church that nurtures the faith and spirituality of children and young people.

Children’s and Family Ministry

Carolyn returned to an academic role at Ridley after eight years developing and implementing strategies to make the church more child-focused, most recently working for (NCI) to create and deliver the systems that support the Church of England’s aim to double the number of children and active disciples under the age of 18. An element of this work involved partnering with Ridley Hall and other Theological Education Institutes to develop effective ministerial formation of all those engaging with children and young people in and for our churches.

In her previous roles as Children and Youth Adviser for the Diocese of York, and theological educator at CYM and Cliff College, she has helped people develop their mission and ministry with children, young people and families in a host of creative ways. She is delighted to have just started writing Bible reading resources again having spent many happy years writing resources for children’s church and holiday club materials.  

Personal Background

Carolyn enjoys laughing, and looking at beautiful things with friends, family and her rescue dog, Monty. She tries to fit a number of creative hobbies including stained glasswork around being Mum, Stepmother, Nanna and foster carer.

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