Student & Alumni Stories

I was instantly drawn to St Hild because of the community spirit, I felt as soon as I arrived. From the teaching experience on the Open Day, I knew instantly that the Bible would be opened up in a very new and deeper way.”

‘It was the warm welcome that really encouraged me to come to St Hild. I felt really welcomed at both the Open Days I came to and really enjoyed getting to join with worship and lectures on those days. The atmosphere and everyone seemed welcoming, and I felt excited at the idea of studying here.’

One of her current personal support systems is her ministry formation group from St Hild. ‘We keep in touch through a WhatsApp group and still support each other.”

St Hild Mission on the Margins track continues to influence how she approaches mission in her church, which is in an inner-city area. As a result of her degree, she believes she is more aware of the way the church can become more closely integrated with its immediate community and to offer a church which…

He feels he learned his writing skills from St Hild. He has since authored eight Christian books.

Rev’d Sarah Watson and Rev’d Rachael Brooks are thrilled at being appointed together in a creative partnership designed to reach the 4300 children of school age across four parishes in two suburbs of Derby and an adjacent village.

St Hild student Paula Holmes-Patel went on a life-changing two-week mission trip to Uganda in August 2021 where she worked in a ‘Babies Home’.

St Hild provided flexibility for me to continue working part-time, and gave me practical, relevant skills. Its emphasis on socio-historical context has helped me make the Bible accessible, especially to those unfamiliar with it.”

Janet Williams and Sally Nelson pointed me towards the journal “Faith and Thought” which is offering space for junior scholars to submit essays – so I submitted the essay to the editor just before Christmas and it was accepted.”

What you invest in study gives a high return. I wholeheartedly recommend prioritising theological study to church leaders, especially those in our kind of church (Newfrontiers) where there isn’t a formal requirement or expectation for it.’

St Hild has created a learning environment that is accessible and sustainable for me; my disability and different learning abilities are not a barrier whilst I’m training at St Hild thanks to their approach.”

Learning should be life-giving and lifelong, it should broaden horizons and deepen faith. For me, that is best experienced in an academic community: sparking off one another and a good teacher; drawing on the thoughts and writings of others; challenging my perceptions and reflecting on my experiences.”