News & Events

The appointment process for the newly established Bede Chair of Catholic Theology took place on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st of April. Many trustees of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, representatives of the Sisters of Mercy (Oaklea), Ushaw College staff and students, and clergy and people of the region participated in the public presentations on the Sunday afternoon. In addition, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham and Fr Jim O’Keefe of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle were full participants throughout the entire appointment process as invited representatives (by Canon Seamus Cunningham) of the interests of the Diocese and the other sponsors.

The successful candidate was Prof. Lewis Ayres, an English lay Catholic theologian, currently teaching at Emory University in Georgia, USA. Prof. Ayres is a world-regarded, leading expert in patristic theology (particularly Christology and Trinity) with a strong constructive/contemporary dimension to his work, with a very well developed understanding of what it means to live between academy and church, and with a strong vision and passion for the further development of Catholic theology and the Centre for Catholic Studies within the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. For further details about Prof. Ayres click here.

Archbishop Nichols noted the enviable position in which this appointment and associated developments - in tandem with the existing resources of Ushaw College - place the region in relation to Catholic theological scholarship, formation and understanding. Rev Dr. Fergus Kerr, O.P., who acted as the External Assessor for the appointment process, referred to Prof. Ayres as a quite remarkable theological talent of exceptional promise and potential. The staff of the Department of Theology and Religion and, within that, of the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University are immensely grateful for the generous financial sponsorship and vision that have made this unique development possible, for the prayerful support that has carried it and in which it will unfold to full potential, and for the participation of so many clergy and people of the Diocese in the presentations on Sunday 21st April.

There is to be a dual launch event for the Bede Chair and the Centre for Catholic Studies from the early evening of Thursday 8th May through to lunch on Saturday 10th May, comprising two free public lectures (ticket only, by request), two celebratory dinners and a short conference on the theme “Catholic Theology and the Public Academy”. Full details, costs and application procedure can be found by clicking here or by email to judith.aird@durham.ac.uk. All are welcome.