The Centre for Christian Education and Pastoral Theology is a University research centre in the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Education and Social Science, which supports and enhances research activities in areas relating to Christian education and pastoral theology at Liverpool Hope University.
We engage a broad range of academics, researchers, undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and doctoral students, and other stakeholders across church and education, to promote and challenge thinking about the interplay of religion and education across higher education, K1-12 school and lifelong learning contexts. The aim is to communicate and connect spiritual, moral, theological, religious education and philosophical reflection with both research and practice. This is done in a spirit of ecumenical dialogue between different denominational traditions and through interdisciplinary dialogue that bridges the gap between theology and education and between theory and practice.
We support a range of events throughout the calendar year, including professional development activity as well as research collaborations, publications and projects, building relationships with wider church bodies, cathedrals group universities, schools and other education partners. We welcome suggestions from all within the Hope community and beyond who wish to contribute.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle (Director and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Education)
e: stuartr@hope.ac.uk
CCRS National Research
Forming today's Catholics is a pressing issue for the Church. The CCRS National Research project took up this question to examine one of the main vehicles over the last 25 years called the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS). More than 20,000 adults across England and Wales have taken the course since 2000 in order to further their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith, many of whom work in Catholic schools and parishes. While the research affirms the role and contribution of the CCRS to adult formation and celebrates all that has been achieved, it also raises timely and important questions to be considered.
Research findings across two data collection phases emerge from course participants as well as interviews with bishops, diocesan education directors, head teachers and local CCRS providers. The research gives hard evidence of the continuing need for adult theological literacy and the vast majority of participants greatly value the course and would recommend it to others. The research also identifies concerns about the curriculum that is needed and how best to enable adult learning with clear theological purpose and practical relevance for today. The final report makes a number of recommendations for church authorities to consider.
Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle, Director of the Centre for Christian Education at Liverpool Hope University, who led this funded research project says, "It was a privilege to undertake this research. I was inspired by the many individual stories of how the CCRS has impacted on peoples' spiritual and professional lives. I was also challenged by the needs, perceptions and expectations that people bring to their experience of faith and stimulated, as a result, to see how lay Catholics today can grow in theological thinking that is relevant to our times."
Fr Des Seddon, Chairman of the Board of Religious Studies of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, affirms the importance of the research report and says, "the recommendations will provide the Board of Studies with a way forward for the next phase of developments for the CCRS. I would like to express my thanks to all those who were involved in the research."
To download the research report please click here
To listen to an interview podcast about this research please click here
The following research outputs are representative of the work of Centre members but is not an exclusive listing:
Stuart-Buttle, R. (2019) CCRS Twenty Five Years On: One Size Fits All?, Rejoice Publications, Matthew James Publishing Ltd. http://www.brs-ccrs.org.uk/images/CCRS-Twenty-Five-Years-On-WEBSITE.pdf
Shortt, J. (2017) 'Education for Shalom: dimensions of a relational pedagogy' in P.M. Bamber & J.C. Moore (eds), Teacher Education in Challenging Times. London: Routledge.
Stuart-Buttle, R. & Shortt, J. (2018) Christian Faith, Formation and Education. Palgrave Macmillan. See https://www-palgrave-com.ezproxy.hope.ac.uk/gp/book/9783319628028
Stuart-Buttle, R. (2018) ‘Research and Practice in Catholic Educational Studies’ in Whittle, Sean ed. (2018) Researching Catholic Education: Contemporary Perspectives, Springer.
Stuart-Buttle, R. (2016) 'Does RE Matter: What do Teachers Think?' in Shanahan, Mary ed. (2016) Does Religious Education Matter? Taylor & Francis.
Stuart-Buttle, R. (2016) 'Vatican II and New Thinking on Catholic Education: An English Perspective' in Whittle, Sean ed. (2016) Vatican II and New Thinking about Catholic Education. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
Sullivan, J. (2017) ‘A space like no other’ in Does Religious Education Matter. Edited by Mary Shanahan (Routledge, 2016), pp.7 – 24.
Sullivan, J. (2017) ‘Relative autonomy and the Catholic university’ in Vatican II and New Thinking about Catholic Education edited by Sean Whittle (Routledge, 2017), pp.215 – 235.
Sullivan, J. (2018) ‘Living Tradition and Learning Agency: Interpreting the ‘score’ and personal rendition’ in Christian Faith, Formation and Education, edited by Ros Stuart-Buttle and John Shortt (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018), pp.93 – 114.
Sullivan, J. (2018) ‘The Christian Academic in Higher Education: The Consecration of Learning (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). ‘The Role of RE teachers in Catholic Schools: Between Pedagogy and Ecclesiology’ in Religious Education in Catholic Schools, edited by Sean Whittle (Bern: Peter Lang Publishing, 2018).
Sullivan, J.(2018) 'The University', The Oxford Handbook of John Henry Newman, edited by Frederick D.Aquino & Benjamin J. King (Oxford University Press, 2018), pp.538-556.
Sullivan, J. (2018) 'The Role of RE Teachers in Catholic Schools: Between Pedagogy and Ecclesiology' in Religious Education in Catholic Schools, edited by Sean Whittle (Bern: Peter Lang Publishing, 2018).
The Centre is involved in a range of research-informed teaching that includes:
MA Religious Education (Interdisciplinary Studies)
This 60 credit block takes an innovative approach to religious education issues, allowing students to develop strengths and interests by encouraging reflection and debate, supported by staff with experience and expertise in the field. The programme has been designed to cater for the interests of professionals in all kinds of settings including primary, secondary and post-compulsory education; faith and non-faith schools and faith organisations. Find out more here
Doctoral Study
The centre also welcomes doctoral applications in our research programme areas, either through the university PhD programme or the Education Doctorate.
Level H Theology Advanced Seminar
A six-week series of lectures and seminars explores key thinkers and themes relating to theology and education. The sessions will provide opportunities to engage closely with key theological ideas in Christian education and examine implications for educational practice in church schools. Sessions include topics such as
- Augustine and what we mean by 'Christian education'
- Thomas Aquinas and what makes for a good teacher
- Martin Luther and changing historical contexts for Christian education
- John Henry Newman and the Idea of a University
- Competing claims for faith schools and doing God in education
- Religious Education - what should we teach?
Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies
- This is awarded by the Board of Religious Studies on behalf of the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales. It is recommended for anyone who wants to teach in a Catholic school as well as anyone seeking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of Catholic faith and theology. The CCRS is delivered as a two year rolling programme and requires completion of a total of eight modules: six core and two specialist modules. Four modules are offered each academic year and so it is possible to complete the course within two years or else take up to five years as allowed by the Board of Studies.
- There are two options for taking CCRS with Liverpool Hope University: Full-time Hope registered students can take part in the Saturday programme, with modules delivered across advertised dates during term time.
- CCRS Online is for externals where modules are hosted in the university’s virtual learning site and there is no requirement for campus attendance. Media-rich learning resources invite independent study and reflection together with interactive activities for collaborative exchange among tutors and students. It is possible to transfer into the CCRS Online from another CCRS local centre providing that the entire certificate (all eight units) is completed within a period of five years following registration with the Board of Studies. Each CCRS Online module currently costs £75.Insert flier.
- For both options there is a £25 Board of Studies registration fee. Module registration and payment is made via the University online store.
- For all enquiries relating to the CCRS course at Liverpool Hope University please e-mail ccrsonline@hope.ac.uk. Alternatively, find out more about the national CCRS award by visiting the Board of Studies website.
Anglican Church School Studies
This is a non-accredited professional development course developed in consultation with leading practitioners to provide opportunities for students undergoing teacher training to develop working knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their preparation for a role and contribution within a Church of England school or academy. The course explores the distinctive identity and defining characteristics of CofE schools and academies. It examines the relationship between values, vision, ethos and standards and considers the special nature and impact of religious education and collective worship. The importance of reflective practice is emphasised, with opportunities to develop professional knowledge, understanding and skills and to prepare with confidence for a role and contribution within a CofE setting.
We hold a range of seminars and other events throughout the academic year, offering a forum for students, academics and practitioners to share and develop their ideas in a collegial and supportive atmosphere.
We welcome collaborations from outside the university, and if you are interested in attending any events or sharing your own work, please contact Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle at stuartr@hope.ac.uk
'New Research Report' - Children's Online Nurture by Dr Sarah Holmes, Liverpool Hope University.
This report considers Sunday School shutdowns during Covid-19 and how will this affect our children's faith nurture
Click below to view and download a copy.
Children's Online Nurture report - Sarah Holmes LHU
Contact us:
If you have a question about our research centre, please do not hesitate to get in touch:
If you have any questions, please contact the Centre’s Director
We particularly welcome enquiries from guest speakers, potential research or event collaborators, or future doctoral students for our Education Doctorate or the university’s PhD programme.
