Staff profile
| Affiliation | Telephone |
|---|---|
| DCAD Fellow in the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD) |
Biography
Academic Biography
After first degrees in Biology and Theology and an MA in Religious Education, in 2018 I joined the Parish Church Studies course at University of York which in turn led in 2021 to an MA (Distinction) in Heritage and Interpretation from the University of Leicester.
Current Research
My research centres around the interpretation of religious belief and material culture within heritage settings looking at this through the lens of 'Golden Age' Northumbrian Christianity. I am interested in how this distinct expression of Christian belief is portrayed in a contemporary society where some would argue that declining religious literacy, and hence cultural capital, when combined with limited empathy for religious themes inhibits audiences from constructing the fullest of meanings.
Using an ethnographic methodology, I am attempting to describe the interperative discourses that are apparent at a variety of case study sites, not least when they intersect with religious materiality, concepts of social value, and modern expressions of belief. I will then go on to try and better understand how interperative schemes came about and what were the drivers behind them.
Research Interests
- Early Medieval Christianity
- Religious Heritage
- Heritage Interpretation
- Social Value and Authenticity
- Monasticism
Grants
2022 Durham University Archaeology Dept Seed Corn Award (£250)