Anglican Chaplain to the University of Birmingham

The Anglican Chaplain will serve as a visible, confident, and pastorally grounded Christian presence within the University of Birmingham. Rooted in the worshipping life of St Bartholomew’s (Old Church) and operating from the Multi‑Faith Chaplaincy Centre at the heart of campus, the Chaplain will:

• embody a ministry of prayer, proclamation, service, and hospitality;
• nurture intellectual and spiritual growth among students and staff;
• contribute to the flourishing of the university community through pastoral care, public engagement, and collaborative chaplaincy.

The Chaplain will be the Bishop of Aston’s nominee for appointment as a Recognised Chaplain, with all accompanying university privileges and responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

A. Mission, Discipleship, and Formation

• Lead a confident and prayerful Anglican presence across campus, engaging students and staff with warmth, integrity, and intellectual curiosity.
• Develop a mission‑shaped strategy that integrates worship, discipleship, and engagement with academic life.
• Create and support accessible opportunities for exploration of Christian faith marked by hospitality, depth, and clarity.
• Encourage and resource the Christian student community, including support for faith societies and emerging leaders.
• Foster theological literacy and engagement with Scripture in ways that strengthen Christian witness in academic contexts.
• Provide visible presence amongst the student and staff communities – comfortably stepping outside of the chaplaincy building.

  Pastoral and Spiritual Care

• Offer pastoral care to staff and students of all faiths and none.
• Maintain a welcoming, safe, and confidential ministry within the Chaplaincy Centre.
• Establish rhythms of prayer, intercession, and worship in partnership with Chaplaincy colleagues.
• Support those discerning vocation to Christian leadership, public service, or ministry.

Advocacy, Culture, and Public Engagement

• Act as a thoughtful and constructive Christian voice within university conversations.
• Build positive relationships with university leadership, schools/faculties, Student Services, Wellbeing, and the Guild.
• Participate in governance structures relevant to chaplaincy, helping shape its development.
• Represent Christian perspectives in campus debates and public forums with grace and confidence.

  Partnership and Collaboration

• Work collaboratively within the Multi‑Faith Chaplaincy team, contributing to shared initiatives and respectful dialogue.
• Build links with teaching and research centres, including the School of Philosophy, Theology & Religion.
• Engage with the University of Birmingham Chaplaincy Trust and utilise resources responsibly for student and staff wellbeing.
• Maintain strong and supportive relationships with Church of England parishes involved in ministry to the university.
• Participate in local, regional, and national chaplaincy and student mission networks.
• Foster unity amongst Christian groups on campus.
• Establish positive working relationship with the University of Birmingham Anglican Chaplaincy Trust

  Student-Facing Parish‑Based Ministry (St Bartholomew’s)

• The parish‑based element of the role will normally equate to two days per week (including Sundays).
• Serve as part of the ministry team at St Bartholomew’s, contributing to its worshipping life and mission
• Support the parish in developing sustainable student engagement, including midweek discipleship and welcome.
• Preach, preside, and participate pastorally in Sunday worship.

 Relationship with St Bartholomew’s (Old Church)

The Chaplain’s rootedness in St Bartholomew’s is foundational to this model of chaplaincy. The parish provides:

• a worshipping community for spiritual nourishment;
• a base for forming and sending Christian students in partnership with the Chaplain;
• partnership, accountability and integration into the wider parish mission;
• practical support including office space, resources, and team collaboration.

The Chaplain will be an integral member of the parish team while maintaining clear accountability for university‑based responsibilities through the Director of Mission.

Council of Reference (Proposed)

To ensure transparency, shared confidence, and healthy relationships with a range of stakeholders, a Council of Reference will meet three times per year. Its purpose is advisory rather than operational.

Membership may include:

• Director of Mission (Chair)
• Incumbent of St Bartholomew’s
• A representative from the University of Birmingham Chaplaincy Committee
• A representative from the Birmingham Anglican Chaplaincy Trust
• Two parish clergy from churches with significant student ministry (to reflect breadth)
• One chaplain from another HE institution
• The Anglican Chaplain (in attendance; not chairing)

 Functions:

• To provide wisdom, feedback, and accountability in the development of the chaplaincy.
• To ensure positive and collaborative relationships across differing perspectives.
• To review emerging opportunities and challenges in the chaplain’s ministry.
• To affirm and support the Chaplain’s wellbeing and professional development.

This mechanism creates a transparent, relational, and future‑facing space that builds confidence across the diocese and partners.

Person Specification

 Essential

• Ordained priest in the Church of England (or a church in communion).
• A prayerful, reflective minister with a love of learning and deep commitment to student ministry and mission.
• Ability to minister within the liturgical and theological tradition of St Bartholomew’s.
• Demonstrated competence in leading public worship
• Proven ability to communicate Christian faith clearly and joyfully across diverse environments.
• Clear evidence of working effectively and sensitively within culturally, socially and religiously diverse communities, showing mature pastoral judgment in complex environments.
• Demonstrates pastoral sensitivity, safeguarding awareness, and the ability to relate well to people at all stages of faith.
• A collaborative team member able to build constructive relationships across the university and parish.
• A self‑starter able to work independently while remaining accountable.
• Commitment to working within the safeguarding parameters of University of Birmingham and the University of Birmingham chaplaincy.
• The post is subject to enhanced DBS check with Barred List check, satisfactory references and completion of relevant Safeguarding Training

 Desirable

• Experience in chaplaincy or student ministry.
• Academic or theological research experience.
• Ability to navigate cultural and intellectual diversity with creativity and grace.
• Experience using digital and social media for mission.

Support and Resources

• University office base:Office provision, IT and admin support is provided by Birmingham University in St Francis Hall Multi-faith Chaplaincy Centre, with dedicated space for corporate worship and fellowship.
• Working expenses:The University of Birmingham Anglican Chaplaincy Trust contributes towards the Chaplain’s working expenses in ministry to the University.
• Parish office space and worship resourceswill be provided by St Bartholomew’s Church. St Bartholomew’s PCC is responsible for covering parish-based costs.
• Ongoing oversight and ministerial supportfrom both the parish and diocesan mission team.
• Reflective Pastoral Supervision:Regular participation in confidential Reflective Pastoral Supervision is strongly recommended for clergy engaged in pastoral ministry. This is available at no cost through the Birmingham RPS scheme.
• MDR:Ordained ministers Licensed by the Bishop participate in Ministerial Development Review and Continuing Ministerial Development.

Terms and Conditions

Employer:  Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance (BDBF)

Reports to: The Director of Mission and will have day-to-day supervision from the Incumbent of       St Bartholomew’s

Location:          The role will be based out of St Bartholomew’s Church, Edgbaston

Hours: Full-time (5 days, 35 hours per week) funded for a fixed term of 5 years.

License: Licensed by the Bishop of Birmingham for 5 years.

Salary:  £ 34,950 per annum

Pension:  Membership of the CofE Clergy Pension Scheme

Accommodation: For the better performance of the duties of the post, the postholder will be required to live in provided  accommodation (currently a 4 bedroom  town house in Selly Oak with small garden and car-parking, conveniently located to Birmingham University Selly Oak and Edgbaston campuses.)

Annual Leave: Five weeks’ annual leave per calendar year plus Bank Holidays plus 3 additional Diocesan Discretionary Days.

As this post involves the delivery of ordained Anglican ministry within the University of Birmingham, including being rooted in the worshipping life of St Bartholomew’s (Old Church), the post carries a genuine occupational requirement for the postholder to be an ordained priest within the Anglican Communion.

Closing date for applications: 6^th May 2026 

Interviews to be held in person: 20^th May 2026

To apply for the role, please click here.

APPENDIX 1

The University of Birmingham has no corporate religious or ideological affiliation. Since its foundation and incorporation by royal charter in 1905, the university has been committed to constructive engagement with the city of Birmingham and its region, including relationships with Christian churches of all traditions and a wide diversity of faith communities and religious belief.

See: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/city-and-region/civic-commitment

Multi-faith chaplaincy is welcomed and supported within this culture of ‘openness’.  Multi-faith chaplaincy is welcomed and supported within this culture of ‘openness’.   The University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion policy 2025-2028 states: 

One of our key values as a University is ‘open’. As a global university with campuses located in the highly diverse city of Birmingham and the international education hub of Dubai, we welcome colleagues, collaborators, and students from all backgrounds and from across the world to work and study with us. Our 41,000 students and 10,000 staff are a thriving and diverse community of over 145 nationalities. We stand for tolerance, freedom of expression within the law and against discrimination.

Since the 1930s, chaplains have played an important part in university life, centred on St Francis Hall - a Chaplaincy Centre endowed by the Cadbury family, expanded in the 1960s to become the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Centre. On a larger scale, faith celebrations such as the University Christmas Carol Service organised and led by Christian chaplains in the Great Hall, or community Iftars organised by I-Soc and Muslim chaplains, attract hundreds of participants.

Details of the Multi-faith Chaplaincy at the University of Birmingham can be found here:

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/multi-faith-chaplaincy/index.aspx

Christian chaplains and student faith societies are free to engage constructively in this arena.

All Chaplains are appointed, funded and managed by their sending bodies, and must be recognised by the Vice Chancellor of the University. Chaplains may be full-time (where the university is primary focus of ministry based on campus) or part-time (limited engagement with the university). The operations and strategic development of ecumenical and multi-faith chaplaincy is overseen by a senior academic appointed by the Vice Chancellor to serve as Chair of the Chaplaincy Committee (currently Professor Elaine Fulton, appointed in 2025). Hence Recognised Chaplains are ‘within the university, but not of the university’. 

The university is committed to providing office space, collective worship space and meeting rooms, IT and administrative support for all recognised chaplains, joining with the Guild of Students in supporting recognised student faith societies (e.g. Christian Union, Islamic Society, Sikh Society, Catholic Society, SCM, etc).

Chaplaincy is structured through a standard Memorandum of Understanding between the University and each sponsoring church or faith community. A Vice Chancellor’s review of chaplaincy governance is currently underway. In the current MoU, the core responsibilities of Recognised Chaplains are summarised as follows below. 

Responsibilities of Full-Time Chaplains  

The University of Birmingham expects Recognised full-time Chaplains to:

• Carry out individual faith-based and worship responsibilities on behalf of the respective faith organisation;
• Provide pastoral support to any staff or student, irrespective of religion or belief, and liaise closely with appropriate support services at the University to promote wellbeing and maintain the safety and security of the University community;
• Lead on the development of multi-faith activities and promote good campus relations;
• Work in partnership with Student Services (who provide administrative and operational support to the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy) to ensure that the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy budget, endowment funds, resources and facilities are managed and monitored responsibly;
• Act in accordance with all University rules, procedures and codes of practice and any government legislation relating to its activities and operations including, but not limited to, those relating to Data Protection, Bribery, Use of Computers, emergencies, fires, health and safety, equality and diversity. The Chaplaincy Committee will provide advice as necessary to facilitate compliance in the best interests of the University.

The Faith Organisation will seek to ensure that the Chaplains will undertake the responsibilities outlined above

As the employer of the full-time Chaplains, the Faith Organisations shall continue to be responsible for any management issues of the full-time Chaplain including, but not limited to, disciplinary, grievance, performance, sickness and holiday.

The current make up of University of Birmingham chaplains can be found here:

https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/student/multi-faith-chaplaincy/chaplains-staff/index.aspx  

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work. 

We welcome applications from any individuals who feel that they meet the person specification for any post, in particular from those who are currently under-represented in our staff teams such as those from Global Majority Heritage or UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQI+.

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. The post is subject to enhanced DBS check with Barred List check, satisfactory references and completion of relevant Safeguarding Training