Staff

The Revd Dr Graham Tomlin is the Principal of St Paul’s Theological Centre and Dean of St Mellitus College. He studied English Literature and Theology at Oxford, and was curate of a church in Exeter, before returning to Oxford to be Chaplain of Jesus College and a tutor in Historical Theology and Evangelism at Wycliffe Hall, where he eventually became Vice Principal. He was for several years a member of the Theology Faculty of Oxford University, teaching on the Reformation and contemporary Mission and Culture, before moving to London in 2005. He is a member of the Church of England’s College of Evangelists. He is the author of numerous articles and several books, including ‘The Power of the Cross: Theology and the Death of Christ in Paul, Luther and Pascal’ (Paternoster 1999), 'The Provocative Church’ (SPCK 2002), ‘Luther and his World’ (Lion 2002), ‘The Responsive Church (IVP 2005), Spiritual Fitness: Christian Character in a Consumer Culture (Continuum 2006) and most recently 'The Seven Deadly Sins and How to Overcome Them' (Lion Hudson 2007). He is married to Janet, has two children and suffers from a lifelong addiction to Bristol City Football Club.
Visit Graham's blog on the home page

The Revd Dr Andy Emerton is the Director of SPTC. Following Graham Tomlin's appointment as the first Dean of St Mellitus College, Andy has been appointed to work under Graham in overseeing the work of SPTC, especially the ordination training course here, which is part of St Mellitus. Andy studied in York, Oxford and Cambridge, has degrees in Maths and Theology as well as a doctorate in Theoretical Physics from Oxford University. He has worked for several years in a church in Guildford, trained for Anglican ministry at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, has extensive experience in youth work, and comes to SPTC from being curate at Holy Trinity Brompton, where he oversaw the work and development of over 50 pastorate groups at the heart of the church.

The Revd Dr Michael Lloyd is Tutor in Theology at SPTC he did his doctoral thesis on the problem of evil in Oxford. After that, he was on the staff of St. James the Less in Pimlico, before returning to Oxford to teach doctrine at St. Stephen's House. He was also a member of Oxford University's Faculty of Theology. He is the author of Cafe Theology, which he describes as ‘a romp through the whole of Christian theology’, published by Alpha International. For many years, he has taught at HTB's Home Focus week in the summer. He is married to Abigail and loves walking, theatre, cricket, music, and keeps worms.

Dr Jane Williams teaches Christian doctrine at SPTC. She is also a visiting Lecturer in Theology at King’s College London, having previously taught at Trinity College Bristol. She is the author of several books, including ‘Approaching Easter’ and ‘Approaching Christmas’, ‘Perfect Freedom’, ‘Who Do You Say That I am?' and most recently, 'Angels'. She is married to Rowan, who is Archbishop of Canterbury, and they have two children.

Chris Tilling is tutor in New Testament Studies and teaches across the whole of St Mellitus College. Chris studied at St Andrew’s University and London School of Theology and is finishing off a doctorate under Max Turner in Pauline Christology. Before he moved to London to join SPTC, he was based in Germany, and was a regular contributor to the English-German Colloquium in New Testament in Tübingen. He has written several articles on aspects of New Testament studies, and has translated many others from German into English. He is the author of a very popular theology blog site entitled Chrisendom. He is married to Anja, and enjoys golf(at which he is pretty good), football and snooker.

Dr Stephen Backhouse is the Tutor for Social and Political Theology at SPTC. Stephen studied at the University of Oxford, then McGill, then Oxford again, where he completed his doctorate on Kierkegaard's critique of Christian nationalism. Besides teaching at those universities, Stephen has also written on matters of politics, national identity and Christianity. As well as magazine and journal articles, other publications include Red, White, Blue and Brown and Establishment in the Church of England (both for Theos). Upcoming books include a theological analysis of the Liberal Democrat Party, and the Concise Encyclopaedia of Christian History for Lion. He lives with his wife Clare near a river, a swan, and two apple trees.

Rachel Atkinson is tutor in Missiology at St. Mellitus College, and is also engaged in doctoral research in the area of spirituality and mission. Previously, she held the position of tutor in mission and evangelism at Spurgeon’s Theological College, and continues as an associate both of Spurgeon’s College and of ‘Formation’, a Christian training and mentoring initiative.  Rachel has served on the staff of St. Andrew’s, Chorleywood, and All Saints’, Peckham, and has worked as a schools worker with Scripture Union. She holds a Master’s degree in biblical studies from Sheffield University, and has published in the academic journal, ANVIL, as well as contributing regularly to Christianity magazine. She is married to Phil, and together they enjoy sharing good food and conversation with friends.

Associate Professor

Alister McGrath is a visiting professor at St. Mellitus College and teaches regularly at St. Paul's Theological Centre.  Alister McGrath is one of the most published and well-known theologians in the world today. He comes from Belfast, N. Ireland, and studied at Oxford, Cambridge and Utrecht universities. He is a specialist in a wide range of fields, including Reformation theology, Anglicanism, and the relationship between Science and Faith. He was Principal of Wycliffe Hall Oxford, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, and is now Professor of Theology, Education and Ministry at King's College London. He is the author of numerous books, including 'Christian Theology: An Introduction', ' A Scientific Theology (3 volumes), and 'Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes and the Meaning of Life'.

Associate Lecturers

Paula Gooder is a freelance writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies.  After studying in Oxford, she spent 12 years in theological education (first at Ripon College Cuddesdon and then at the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological education, Birmingham, before making the move to freelance work. Her research areas include the writings of Paul, with a particular emphasis on 2 Corinthians and Mysticism, Biblical Interpretation and the Development of Ministry in the Early Church.  Her recent publications include Searching for Meaning: An Introduction to Interpreting the New Testament (SPCK, 2008), The Meaning is the the Waiting: The Spirit of Advent (Canterbury Press, 2008), LentWise: Spiritual Essentials for RealLife (CHP, 2008). She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham Cathedral.  She is a Reader in the Birmingham Diocese.  She is a visiting lecturer at Kings College, London, an honorary lecturer at the University of Birmingham and a Senior Research Scholar of the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham.  She is a member of General Synod, the Archbishop's Faith and Order Advisory Group, the Women Bishop's Legislative Drafting Group and the Ministry Division's Quality in Formation. She lives in Birmingham with her husband Peter and two daughters Susie and Ruth.

Pete Greig is Director of Prayer at Holy Trinity Brompton and International Director of 24-7 Prayer, a global community committed to prayer, mission and justice which has attracted the attention of magazines from Rolling Stone to Readers' Digest. He studied Theology and Sociology at the University of Greenwich and subsequently worked with adults with Learning Disabilities. Pete became one of the senior leaders of Revelation church in Chichester, and planted two new congregations focused on the emerging culture. Pete's books include Red Moon Rising, PunkMonk: New Monasticism and the Ancient Art of Breathing and God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer. He and his wife Samie are currently helping to pioneer a fresh expression of monastic, missional community in Guildford, where they live with their two children and Noodle the dog. Pete enjoys cooking, aspires to surf, and despairs regularly over Portsmouth FC.

Amy Orr-Ewing is Training Director of RZIM Zacharias Trust and Director of Programmes for the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). She gained a first class degree in Theology at Christ Church, Oxford University, before receiving a Masters degree in Theology at King’s College, London. As well as overseeing the Zacharias Trust and OCCA apologetics training programmes, Amy is invited to speak at many universities, churches and conferences worldwide. Her book Why Trust the Bible? was shortlisted for the 2006 UK Christian Book Awards, and her most recent book, But Is It Real?, was published in July 2008. Amy has co-authored with her husband Holy Warriors: A Fresh Look at the Face of Extreme Islam and Deep and has contributed to the books God and the Generations, Worth Knowing: Wisdom for Women and Beyond Opinion. She is married to Frog (Francis), who is a vicar in the Church of England, and they live in London with their three sons, Zachary, Elijah and Benjamin.

Simon Downham is the Vicar of St Paul's, Hammersmith. His career began as a commercial lawyer, specialising in International Corporate Finance . He later gained a first from Oxford schools of theology when training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall. In 1994 Simon became assistant curate at HTB, and in 2000 he led a planting team to reestablish St Pauls Hammersmith . Simon continues his interest in theological matters. He is now pursuing post graduate study in theological anthropology. He is in increasing demand as a speaker around the UK and has given the main Bible readings at New Wine. Simon's great passion is the history of art and he has a special interest in colourist painting. He is also a life long supporter of Carlisle United. Simon is married to Anna and has four children .

Sean Doherty is curate of St Gabriel's, Cricklewood, a vibrant and diverse church in North London, and is completing a doctorate on methodology in economic ethics at Oxford. He is married to Gaby, who is Youth Minister at St Gabriel's, and they have a daughter. He has taught medical ethics at Oxford and has written a Grove booklet on it, Foundations for Medical Ethics. He is also a member of the Grove ethics group. Sean became a Christian at Soul Survivor, and before ordination he worked for Barclays Bank and USPG, an Anglican mission agency. He likes detective fiction, curry and visiting National Trust properties!

Frog Orr-Ewing was appointed Vicar of All Saints, Peckham in 2002. At that time he was the youngest incumbent in the Church of England. Since then the congregation has experienced rapid growth through conversion amongst urban youth, children and adults. The church now impacts hundreds of young people every week in Peckham through small groups, mentoring, clubs and schools work. Frog led a mission called 'God Loves Peckham' in the summer of 2006 where he and his team had the privilege of seeing over 100 people come to know Christ. Frog became a Christian himself as a teenager, and went on to study theology. He worked in the city before getting ordained, and spent 3 years in Oxford as curate at St Aldates Church.
He is married to Amy and they have three sons Zachary, Elijah and Benjamin. He has an MTh from Oxford, is co-author of 'Holy Warriors', and is currently working on a London University doctorate. When he gets any spare time, Frog loves to paint and draw.

Ric Thorpe worked in marketing with Unilever before joining the staff at Holy Trinity Brompton, London in 1990. He became Music Director and Worship Leader, as well as assisting and traveling with Sandy Millar, Priest-in-Charge of St Mark's, Tollington Park, and Nicky Gumbel, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton. He trained for ordination into the Church of England at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was ordained in 1996. He was appointed curate to Sandy Millar at Holy Trinity overseeing the Pastorate groups and Worship team there for eight years. He was involved in Alpha courses at Holy Trinity Brompton, as well as speaking at Alpha conferences in the UK, Europe and the US.
In January 2005, Ric led a church plant to St Paul's Shadwell in East London taking 100 people to join a dwindling and aging congregation of ten. The church is growing and becoming established as an outward-looking church through local mission and supporting other local churches.
He is married to Louie and they have three children, Zoe, Barny and Toby.

Rev'd Dr Joanna Collicutt McGrath is an Anglican priest and senior lecturer in psychology at Heythrop College, University of London, where she convenes the MA programme in psychology of religion. For many years she worked as a consultant clinical psychologist in the NHS, specialising in the area of complex neurological disability. Her interests include medical ethics, the  spirituality of those with special needs (including children), and pastoral liturgy. Her main area of research is in the application of psychology to the Bible, and she is currently working on a book on psychology and Christian theology. Her publications include Ethical practice in brain injury rehabilitation (OUP, 2007), Jesus and the Gospel women (SPCK, 2009), Meeting Jesus (SPCK, 2006 with Jeremy Duff), and The Dawkins Delusion? (SPCK, 2007 with Alister McGrath).