Arts & RE Symposium



	ROWAN WILLIAMS MA DPhil DD Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth Rowan Williams was born near Swansea in South Wales in 1950. He was educated at Dynevor School Swansea and Christ College Cambridge. After lecturing in Theology at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield (1975-7) he was ordained into the ministry of the Anglican Church (priested 1978). He continued teaching Theology first in Cambridge, where he became Dean of Clare College (1984-6) and then in Oxford, as Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity (1986-92). In 1992 he became Bishop of Monmouth in the Church in Wales and was elected Archbishop of Wales at the end of 1999. Dr Williams has wide-ranging interests in Christian Theology and Spirituality, was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1990 and is Chairman of the Trialogue Conference, which brings together professionals from the worlds of Spirituality, Psychotherapy and Literature. He is particularly interested in the relationship between Christianity and the Arts, and enjoys watching The Simpsons with his wife Jane and two children, Rhiannon and Pip. Jane is an established theologian and writer and works at Trinity College, Bristol.

	Sophie Hacker graduated from the Slade School of Art in 1989. She was Artist-In-Residence at St. Mary the Virgin, the civic church in Nottingham, for three years. Now living in Salisbury, her work explores the interface between art and faith. She is a Trustee of Art and Christianity Enquiry (ACE). Sophie Hacker has recently exhibited in solo and group shows in Salisbury and beyond in London, Southampton and Devon. Other commitments have included creative workshops and lectures for Sarum College, Trinity College Bristol, Earlstoke Prison, Salisbury Diocesan Conference, Devizes Deanery and various regional art groups. Her work is used regularly by publishing houses, and is held by the Bridgeman Art Library.

	Mark Oakley is the Rector of St Paul’s, Covent Garden (also known as ‘The Actors’ Church’.) Before this he was Chaplain to the Bishop of London. He studied at London and Oxford and is the author of The Collage of God, in which he explores ways in which faith can be patched together again, with the use of literature, friendship and humour, after it has been damaged or lost.

	Mark Woodruff is a priest, writer and musician living in north west London. He has had a close involvement with Christian teaching in church and school, especially through music and singing. His strong interest in the church’s music has led to appointments as organist of St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem; Precentor of St Edmundsbury Cathedral; and adviser to the late Bishop of Edmonton on liturgical music. Among recent commissions have been Three Poems by G.K. Chesterton for the Lloyds Choir, and a Petite Messe for the Montmartre Congregation of Benedictine Sisters in Paris. A Roman Catholic, Mark works for the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts in the field of social and educational concerns.

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