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Canon Dr Manon Ceridwen James

I was brought up in Nefyn (on the Llŷn peninsula) though I was born in Glanaman, Carmarthenshire. I studied for a Humanities degree (Religious Studies, Sociology and Women’s Studies) at the University of South Wales, Pontypridd and explored a vocation to the ordained ministry whilst there and working at Coleg Trefeca, a Presbyterian conference centre. During that time, I was accepted for training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge where I studied for a theology degree at the University through Selwyn College. I was ordained deacon in 1994 in Bangor Cathedral (priest in 1997) During my first incumbency I combined ministering in four communities around the Ogwen Valley with being Diocesan Director of Ordinands. I have had roles within ministerial and discipleship training, IME Officer, Director of Ordinands and Director of Ministry. I have been involved with training for ministry in the Church in Wales since 2005, and taught practical theology, leading worship, preaching and adult education during that time.

I studied for a postgraduate certificate in Adult Education and Theological Reflection with Chester University (in 2008) completed a PhD at Birmingham University and published a book arising from this research in 2018 with the University of Wales Press.

In my free time I enjoy going to football matches and comedy events with my husband, Dylan. We also enjoy music concerts, festivals and caravanning. I also read and write poetry and have recently published a collection called Notes from a Eucharistic Life.

My research Interests

Publications

Women, Identity and Religion in Wales: theology, poetry, story (2018) University of Wales Press.

Notes from a Eucharistic Life (2023) Cinnamon Press, Leaf imprint.

Chapters

‘Fat Chicks, Blue Books and Green Valleys, Women, Religion and Identity in Wales’, in Slee, N., Porter, F. and Phillips, A. (eds.) (2013) The Faith Lives of Women and Girls: Qualitative Research Perspectives. Farnham: Ashgate.

‘Song of a Voiceless Person: Using the Poetry of Menna Elfyn in a Study of Welsh Women's Identity and Religion’ (2018) in Slee, N., Porter, F. and Phillips, A. (eds.) Researching Female Faith: Qualitative Research Methods (Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology). Abingdon. Routledge.

‘How I Abandoned My Body to His Keeping: reflecting theologically on the experience of domestic violence through the poetry of Kim Moore’ in Katie Cross and Karen O’Donnell (2020) Feminism and Trauma Theologies. London: SCM Press.

Articles

‘Y Ferch Gref: Merched, Crefydd a Hunaniaeth yng Nghymru’ in Y Traethodydd Ebrill 2017 Caernarfon. Gwasg Pantycelyn.

‘From Athens to Cardiff to Corwen: Ministerial formation in the real world’ in Teaching Theology and Religion available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/teth.12625 (accessed 10/01/23). First published online 28 December 2022.

Editor, along with Wayne Morris and Stephen Adams, Welsh Theology: Historical, Contextual and Practical Perspectives, University of Wales Press, 2023.

‘People who go to Eisteddfodau all grand and thinking they are someone’: the role of religion in creating the Welsh middle class’ also in Welsh Theology: Historical, Contextual and Practical perspectives University of Wales Press 2023.

‘A Joke, Just Like on Top Gear: A Theological Reading of the Work of Stewart Lee’ in Stephen Gregg (ed) Religion and Senses of Humour, Equinox, 2023.

‘Humour and Pastoral Care’ in Graeme Smith and Andrew Todd (eds.) ‘Future Faith: A Theology for the Contemporary World.’ Routledge 2023.

I was a regular contributor to the SPCK website when I was a parish priest http://www.assemblies.org.uk and have published assemblies in their two recent publications:

Primary School Assemblies for Religious Festivals (2012) edited by Ronni Lamont, assemblies on Judaism

Seal assemblies for Primary schools (2011) edited by Ronni Lamont.

I have had poems published in Poetry Wales, Envoi, Obsessed with Pipework, Under the Radar, Ink Sweat and Tears and Poetry Scotland.

Canon Dr Manon Ceridwen James

You can contact me on:

manon.c.james@stpadarns.ac.uk

Tel: 02920 563379