News

Canon Donald Gray, former President of the Alcuin Club, died in July 2025. His ashes were interred in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey after Evensong on Monday 22 June 2026 alongside those of his beloved wife Joyce. The inscription on the gravestone reads: Donald Gray 1930 ~ 2025 Canon

Registration is now open for the Society for Liturgical Study’s 2026 Conference, which will take place at Hinsley Hall, Leeds, from 25–27 August 2026. Focusing on the theme “Liturgy and Creation”, this year’s conference will explore how liturgy engages with creation in celebration, lament, theological reflection, and practical action. The

Video recordings of the two talks given at the Alcuin Club Seminar held in the Chapter House, Christ Church Cathedral on 28 May 2026 are now available to view. The theme of the seminar was Embodied Worship: Reflections on ritual and the body. (Click on First address, Second address below.)

“The Work of Human Hands: Liturgy and the Senses” (April 15-17, 2027) will convene scholars from a wide variety of disciplines from around the world at the University of Notre Dame to share their work and wisdom on the intersection between liturgy and the senses. Intentionally broad, the theme invites

Join us for this year’s Alcuin Study Day in Oxford with keynote speaker, Dr Arnold Hunt, and a second paper from Dr Bridget Nichols. The theme of our Study Day is ‘worship as an embodied act’ and takes place in the Chapter House of Christ Church Cathedral. We start the

The Draft Annual Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2025 are now available to download from the Annual Accounts page. The Treasurer’s Report is also available to download. The Alcuin Club Treasurer’s Report 2026

Save the date Thursday 28 May 2026 in the Chapter House from 12 noon – 3.30 pm at Christ Church Oxford Seminar title : ‘EMBODIED WORSHIP: REFLECTIONS ON RITUAL AND THE BODY.’ keynote speaker: Dr Arnold Hunt, second paper: Dr Bridget Nichols. Booking information will be announced nearer the time.

Have you ever wanted to deepen your understanding of the Church’s liturgy and worship? If so, our online postgraduate programmes might be just what you’re looking for. Study part-time, online, with distinguished liturgical scholars. You’ll have access to good online resources and reading rights at the College and Community libraries,

Society for Liturgical Study: Conference and Biennial General Meeting 25–27 August 2026, Hinsley Hall, Leeds (UK) We are excited to invite contributions for the 2026 conference hosted by the Society for Liturgical Study. Mindful of the increasingly urgent environment and climate crises and their social consequences, exacerbated by the prevailing

It was with sadness that we learnt of the death of Canon Donald Gray at the beginning of July. Donald, born in 1930, served as a member of the Council of Societas and was President from 1987-89 and stood in that impressive line of Anglican scholar-priests who combined rigorous academic

This year’s A+C weekend retreat in West Yorkshire will take place from Friday 19 September 2025 17:30 to Sunday 21 September 2025 16:30. It will be based at the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, West Yorkshire. There is an optional tour of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park from 11:00 to 15:00

There is still time to enrol on the PG Diploma/MA in worship and liturgical studies, a University of Durham Award taught entirely online through the Mirfield Liturgical Institute. For details contact the Revd Dr Jo Kershaw: [email protected]

Video recordings of two talks given at the Study Day held on 2 June 2025 are now available to view along with a recording of the Annual General Meeting. The theme of the Study Day was Celebrating 1700 Years of the Nicene Creed. Keynote address: The Nicene Creed, Catechesis, and

The Annual General Meeting of the Alcuin Club will be held this year on Monday 2nd June in the Chapter House at Christ Church Cathedral Oxford as part of the programme for the Study Day. Draft accounts for 2024, The Editorial Secretary’s Report , The Alcuin Club Treasurer’s Report 2025

An event organised by Transforming Worship. For full details follow this link. Saturday 7th June: 10am – 4pm St Mary and St Michael’s Church, Trumpington 1a Grantchester Rd, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9LH Keynote speakers: Ally Barrett and Beth Joss-Pothen. We find our Common Home both in God’s creation and in

‘with one heart and voice confess’ Celebrating the anniversary of the ‘Nicene Creed’ Join us for this year’s Alcuin Study Day and AGM on Monday 2nd June in the Chapter House of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford Tickets (£15) now on sale via Eventbrite. Programme 11.30 am Arrivals / refreshments

A Study Day in partnership with the Society for Liturgical Study Monday 2 June 2025, The Chapter House, Christ Church, Oxford Call for Short Papers – deadline extended to 23 April 2025 is the 1700th anniversary of the so-called Nicene Creed, and the Alcuin Club is marking this anniversary in

A Study Day in partnership with the Society for Liturgical Study Monday 2 June 2025, The Chapter House, Christ Church, Oxford Call for Short Papers 2025 is the 1700th anniversary of the so-called Nicene Creed, and the Alcuin Club is marking this anniversary in its annual Study Day. The Niceno-Constantinopolitan

There will be a Study Day, Celebrating 1700 Years of the Nicene Creed, on Monday 2 June 2025 in the Chapter House, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Booking details will be available in April. Please save the date and promote to colleagues who might be interested.

Please do investigate this exciting opportunity or draw it to the attention of anyone you think might be interested: Funded PhD Opportunity: ‘Digital Approaches to Medieval Chant and Local Religious Heritage’ (deadline 13 January 2025) Applications are invited for a 4-year funded Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA), co-supervised between the University

St Augustine’s College of Theology, West Malling Abbey, Kent, are organising a symposium from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm on Friday 11 October 2024 to discuss the role of Music in Worship and Liturgy. The symposium will feature discussions led by myself, Dr Noel Tredinnick FRSCM, Francesca Massey (Ex Rochester

Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library are proud to hold a significant collection of Alcuin Club publications, the majority of which came from a generous donation from the Revd. Dr. Donald Gray CBE, a former Chairman of the Club. To explore our Alcuin Club holdings, please search “Alcuin Club” on our

It is still possible to enroll for the next academic year for the online taught PGDip/MA , validated by the University of Durham and taught through the Mirfield Liturgical Institute. Would you like to: Deepen your understanding of how and why Christians worship God Gain a postgraduate qualification thatwill support

Video recordings of three of the talks given at the Study Day held on 20 May 2024 are now available to view. The theme of the Study Day was Shape for Worship. The Alcuin Club Festival 2024: Keynote Presentation: Tom O’Loughlin (editor of the 2023 Alcuin Collection, Shaping the Assembly)

This conference is now open for registration. This year’s theme is “A Good Death: Rites of Death and Dying” and will take place at Mirfield between 27 and 29 August 2024. You’ll find a provisional programme, and a link to register for the conference, on the SLS website: https://www.studyliturgy.org.uk/conferences Registration

The treasurer’s report 2024 and draft accounts for 2023 are now available. alcuin_club_treasurers_report_2024 Alcuin-Club-Draft-Accounts-31-12-2023

St Augustine’s College of Theology, West Maling, Kent, is hosting a mini-symposium on Friday 11 October 2024 from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm. The symposium will be led by church musicians from a breadth of traditions: Nöel Tredinnick, Dr Peter Litman, Francesca Massey and Stephen Barker. A deep-dive into the

Tickets £15 (via Eventbrite) are on sale for our Alcuin Study Day, which is the Festival event for this year. (Click the “Read more …” button to see full page if the link is not active.) We hope to see many of you there. The programme for the day is:

Transforming Worship South West will be hosting an online colloquium entitled The Spirituality of Ageing on Wednesday 26 June 2024 from 10am until 12.30pm via Zoom. The keynote speaker is Canon Prof. James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College. James has published and taught widely in the area of the spirituality

Society for Liturgical Study Following the success of last year’s workshop on the funeral liturgies for Queen Elizabeth II, we look forward to gathering at Westminster Abbey for a Study Day on Saturday, 15 June in Westminster Abbey, to discuss the Coronation liturgy for Charles III. The Study Day intends

Later on in the year, between 27 and 29 August, the Society for Liturgical study will be returning to Mirfield for their first in-person SLS Conference since 2019. The conference theme is “A Good Death: Rites of Death and Dying”. The biennial general meeting (BGM) will be held during the

There will be an in-person one-day study day on Saturday 18th May, 10-5pm at Senate House, London on New Directions in the History of Liturgy, organised by the Institute of Historical Research. The study day will feature themed sessions on the topic of ‘Narratives in and of the Medieval Office’,

ACCESSIBILITY IN LITURGY AND WORSHIP FREE WEBINAR – WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL at 19:30 – 21:00 THE JOINT LITURGICAL GROUP OF GREAT BRITAIN invite you to join Léon van Ommen, Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology, and Co-Director of the Centre for Autism and Theology, University of Aberdeen and Rosie Addis, Rector

Tickets are now on sale (via Eventbrite) for the Alcuin Study Day, Space for Worship, which is taking place on Monday 20th May 11 am -4 pm at University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, UK. £15 buy tickets here.    

In 2023, the Alcuin Club Collection was a volume of essays under the title Shaping the Assembly. Through 18 essays from different perspectives, the book explored, as its subtitle puts it “How our buildings form us in worship.” At the Club’s Festival this year, the editor of the volume, Prof.

Monday 20th May (Alcuin’s Day) 11.00am (AGM), Mass, and 13.30 presentations, at The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, the High, Oxford. Key presenter: Prof. Thomas O’Loughlin (editor of the 2023 Alcuin Collection, Shaping the Assembly) Registration details to follow: cost £15, bring a sandwich lunch, tea and coffee

The School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America seeks to fill an open-rank, tenure-track position in Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology with a focus on Sacramental Theology to begin in the 2024-25 academic year. For more information please follow this link.  

A new series of free open-access talks at St Stephen’s House, Oxford aims to bring accessible reflections and wisdom on the connections between music, worship, and community to a wide audience. It’s all part of the new Institute of Sacred Music Oxford at St Stephen’s House and in association with

Colin Buchannan, a regular author of Alcuin Club publications, died on 29 November 2023. There will be a service of thanksgiving for the life and ministry of the Bishop Colin, anAssistant Bishop in the Diocese of Leeds, on Saturday 20 January from 2pm to 3.30pm in Bradford Cathedral. All are

Would you like to: Deepen your understanding of how and why Christians worship God Gain a postgraduate qualification thatwill support you in your ministry in the church, lay or ordained? Refresh your approach to worship? Equip yourself to teach others about liturgy and worship? Then wherever you are in the

An event organised by Transforming Worship. Lament can be individual or corporate. We all face personal difficulties at times, but there is also much to lament within society and the wider world. This is a timely opportunity to explore a vital subject from different angles. Everyone is welcome. If you

Two seminars will be held this term: Tuesday 10th October (please note the change from our usual Monday slot) Nicholas Watson (Harvard University), ‘Vernacular Theology Before the English Reformation: Work in Progress’ Chair: Helen Gittos (Oxford) Seminar meeting begins at 5.30pm (GMT+1:00); this will be on Zoom only. Please go

A one-day conference at the University of Kent, Canterbury, to mark the 75th anniversary of Addleshaw and Etchells’ pioneering study, The Architectural Setting of Anglican Worship, reflecting on the enduring value of the work and how the conversation has developed since 1948. All welcome. Details: tinyurl.com/addleshawandetchells. For queries, contact:[email protected] Poster

The Study Day will take place at Westminster Abbey, focussing on the liturgies that were devised to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The detailed programme for the Study Day is now available, as well as information about how to register. Places for the Study Day are limited, so

The update took place on the morning of Friday 7 July 2023 and the new functionality described in the previous post is now available. As a consequence of software updates there is a known incompatibility that will affect users of older Apple devices (most likely prior to 2015) running versions

As announced at the AGM the Alcuin Club web site is being revised. New features will include a research blog, a “SEE INSIDE” preview for selected publications and information about publishing with the Alcuin Club. We are also gradually introducing … alcuinclub.org.uk email addresses to make it easier to contact

Video recordings of the morning and afternoon sessions of the Festival held on 23 May 2023 are now available to view. The theme of the Festival was Songs of Everlasting Praise: Music in Worship Today. Morning session video The speaker was The Revd. Pete Gunstone acting Precentor of Bradford Cathedral

Shaping the Assembly – How our buildings form us in worship, edited by Thomas O’Loughlin, was published in June 2023. Copies may be purchased through our Publications page. Thomas O’Loughlin writes: Space is all around us – and we constantly refer to it. ‘He is taking my space!’ – said

An opportunity for study. The Revd. Dr. Jo Kershaw is now recruiting the 2023/24 academic year intake for the new Post-Graduate Diploma and MA in Worship & Liturgical Studies (University of Durham, Common Awards).The programme is taught online by an ecumenical team of specialists and practitioners. For enquiries and further

The Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain have now released the publicity for the upcoming conference, ‘Liturgy as Proclamation of the Gospel’. Bookings are now open. The workshop provides an opportunity for those involved in planning and leading liturgy and worship across all Christian denominations to come together to explore

The recording of Prof Larson-Miller’s lecture, I am what I ritualise: identity, theology, and liturgy in secular context, givenon 8 May 2023, has now been uploaded to the University’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/eeaZO-MH43c . Registrations are now open for our August online public lecture which will be given by Dr Phyllis

The AGM Agenda, Reports (including the Treasurer’s Report and Accounts for approval) and Minutes of the last AGM are now available.

St Theosevia’s Centre are hosting a Study Day on Saturday 3 June 2023, from 10.30 am to 4 pm on The Mysteries and Rituals of Monarchy, from Byzantium to the Present with speakers James Cogbill, Dr Allan Barton FSA (Deacon Nectarios), Revd Dr Liz Carmichael , and Alberto Ravani. For

Join us for the 2023 Alcuin Club Festival! Songs of Everlasting Praise: Music in Worship Today’ from 12 noon – 3.30pm, on TUESDAY 23rd May, at St Giles’s Church, Cripplegate, London. Tickets are now available for the panel discussion event, Songs of Everlasting Praise: Music in Worship Today. If you

“I am what I ritualise: identity, theology, and liturgy in secular context” Dr Lizette Larson-Miller, Canon Precentor of the Anglican Diocese of Huron The lecture will take place on 8 May 2023 at 10.00 am AEST. Further details, including an abstract of the lecture and a link to the registration

Churches across the UK are currently busy preparing for the coronation of King Charles III in a fortnight’s time: a fitting moment to announce details for the upcoming Society for Liturgical Studies Study Day on Saturday, 9 September 2023.The Study Day invites participants to reflect on the design and impact

The Congress of Societas Liturgica is taking place from 7 to 10 August at St Patrick’s College Maynooth, Ireland on a theme of Liturgy and Ecumenism.The details and booking information can be found here.

Thursday 16 March 2023, 10.00-12.00, on Zoom.Speakers: Canon Simon Kershaw, Liturgical Commission member and expert on the coronation liturgy. The Very Revd David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.Opportunities around the Coronation. On 6 May the Church of England crowns a new Defender of the Faith. What does the Coronation Liturgy tell

Join us for the 2023 Alcuin Club Festival! Songs of Everlasting Praise: Music in Worship Today’ from 12 noon – 3.30pm, on TUESDAY 23rd May, at St Giles’s Church, Cripplegate, London, EC2Y 8DA with a stimulating panel of two presenters: The Revd. Pete Gunstone acting Precentor of Bradford Cathedral and

Tuesday 22nd November 6-8 pm at Lumen Church, Tavistock Place, London WC1 Speakers: Christopher Irvine, Theologian and Liturgist, ‘Enlightened at the font: seeing the meaning of Baptism’ William Pyre, Artist and creator of the Salisbury Cathedral font, ‘Water as an artist’s medium’ Full details and tickets at artandchristianity.org/upcoming-events

The College of the Resurrection Mirfield is still accepting mid-year entrants to start the part time, distance MA/ PG Dip in Worship and Liturgical studies in January/ February. Fees are £2600 PA (academic or calendar) based on a 2-3 year programme. Please contact the Rev’d Dr Jo Kershaw for more

The Mirfield Institute will be offering the above qualifications as described in the attached flier, which also provides details of the contact for further information.

A recording of the Alcuin Club Annual Festival Mass can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1271675103570825 A recording of the Alcuin Club Annual Festival Lecture by Dr. Bridget Nichols can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1063448814252741

The Agenda and Minutes of the previous AGM are attached to this posting. The Provisional Accounts for 2021 have been previously posted as a news item, but are also attached for convenience.

Attached are the Draft Annual Accounts for 2021, as examined.

Catholic University of America School of Theology and Religious Studies Tenure-Track Professor, Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology The School of Theology and Religious Studies of The Catholic University of America seeks to fill a tenure-track position in Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology with a focus on Sacramental Theology or Ritual

An interactive version of The Apostolic Tradition Reconstructed is available, which will assist readers of the printed version in visualizing the successive chronological layers in a visual manner which is complementary to the method employed in the volume, that of varying typefaces. The interactive version has been kindly prepared by

The Draft Annual Accounts for 2020 (attached in a PDF File) have been provisionally approved by the Examiner in anticipation of approval at the AGM in 2021, along with the Draft 2019 Annual Accounts posted earlier

The Draft Annual Accounts (attached in a PDF File) have been provisionally approved by the Examiner in anticipation of approval at the AGM in 2021, the 2020 AGM having been cancelled.

On account of the Coronavirus pandemic the Alcuin Club Trustees have agreed to cancel the 2020 AGM and Festival scheduled for 20 May 2020. Members who have paid their £12.00 lunch fee will be contacted to arrange a refund to their bank account. The annual accounts for 2019 will be

7 January 2020, 7pm St John’s Waterloo, London SE1 (£12, includes a glass of wine afterwards) This is the final event in our Visual Communion series exploring how the visual arts have shaped and are shaped by the Eucharist. The events have drawn upon ecclesiastical art, architecture, and design and

A series of symposia on the art, architecture and craft of the Eucharist The Eucharist (Mass or Holy Communion) is the central act of worship in Christian liturgy, offering thanksgiving, praise and sacrifice. This series of symposia explores the Eucharist in relation to art, architecture and craft and asks how

2018 ALCUIN CLUB FESTIVAL AND AGM THURSDAY 24th MAY 2018 ‘LITURGY AND ECUMENISM’   The 2018 Alcuin Club Festival and AGM will be held in the afternoon/evening of Thursday 24th May 2018 at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, Paddington London W2 3UD.   The Lecturer will be Father Thomas Pott,

The Rt Rev’d Dr. Stephen Platten has accepted the invitation of the Trustees of the Alcuin Club to be its next president.

Paul Bradshaw “Historical Research and Modern Anglican Worship” Friday 5 May 2017 at 10:30 in the New Refectory Community of the Resurrection MIRFIELD West Yorkshire WF14 0BN Website www.mirfield.org.uk This is a FREE event held at the Community of the Resurrection but booking is essential. Please contact 01924 481920 or

2017 FESTIVAL AND AGM THURSDAY 18th MAY 2017 ‘WHAT CHURCHES ARE FOR?’ The 2017 Festival and AGM will be held on Thursday 18th May 2017 at St James’s Church, Sussex Gardens, Paddington London W2 3UD. Following the recent publication of the Church Buildings Review and the Festival Churches proposal, the

A copy of the 2015 Annual Lecture can be downloaded below.

The 2016 AGM and Festival will be held on Thursday 26th May 2016, at St Botolph Aldgate, London EC3N 1AB (next to Aldgate tube station), commencing with the Eucharist at 12 Noon. The Lecture, on Funeral Rites, will be given by the Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell , Bishop of Exeter

Some members have notified the Club that their recently received copies of ACC 89 have been incorrectly bound. SPCK have undertaken to supply replacement copies to all those affected. Please let the Club know ([email protected]) if your copy is affected as soon as possible.

The first two of the publications for 2014 have now been received and will be posted out to Members this week. They are the Collection No 89: Eucharistic Epicleses, Ancient and Modern by Anne McGowan; and JLS 77: Liturgical Language and Translation, edited by Thomas O’Loughlin. Further details of each

THE 2013 ALCUIN CLUB LECTURE: “THE RECEPTION OF SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM FIFTY YEARS ON” given on Monday 20th May 2013 at The Church of San Pancras, London by The Reverend Professor Keith F. Pecklers, S.J. Professor of Liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University Rome. A copy may be downloaded below.