Professor Andrew Village

My first career was in natural science, studying the ecology of birds of prey. I left in 1989 to train for Anglican ministry, and served as a parish priest until 2004, when I moved to be director of the Centre for Ministry Studies at the University of Wales, Bangor. My university career continued in 2007 when I moved to York St John University. My background shapes the work I currently do in the University and my research interests. I co-ordinate the Practical Theology research group in the faculty, and my particular interest has been in the field of Empirical Theology. My research has involved applying the methods of social science (especially quantitative analysis) to the study of religious beliefs and practices, methodology that draws on my first career in science. I am particularly interested in how the Bible is read and understood in Churches, which is why I teach biblical studies at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Most of my work in the faculty is at postgraduate level, either teaching, supervising, or overseeing doctoral programmes in the Faculty.