Rev’d Dr Sharon Jones

Introductory Statement

Born in Liverpool, I was raised in a small new town in Lancashire. I began attending my local Anglican church when I was six years old where I sung in the choir until I left for university. After Studying for a degree in politics I became a youth and community worker at an inner-city church in Liverpool. There, I began discerning my vocation to the priesthood… a process that would go on for no less than eight years! In the meantime, I studied for a Masters in Theology and Religious Studies and, having been bitten by the research bug, went on to write a doctorate on the sacramental nature of narrative at the same time as teaching courses on everything from the history of Neo-Paganism to psychoanalytic readings of the Bible. After a grand total of eleven years studying and working in Higher Education, I finally gave in to the call to ordination and spent a further two years at Westcott House, training for the priesthood. I went from there to a curacy in Warwick, to being vicar of two parishes in Lancashire to being chaplain to the Community of St Luke at the University of Exeter. I’m now Lead Chaplain for Higher Education for the Birmingham Diocese and full time Anglican Chaplain to the University of Birmingham where I am also an occasional visiting lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. I’m passionate about helping others explore their relationship with God and discern what they might be called to do in the world. In my spare time, I am servant to a large standard poodle, I write novels for children and teenagers and am training in Jungian informed spiritual direction with The Haden Institute in North Carolina.

During term time, the Anglican Chaplaincy offers the following services and events:

Midweek Eucharist                Wednesdays at 12.30 

Busy Person’s Book Club    Once a month. Wednesdays at 7.45pm on Zoom. Next Book begins 8^th February! 

Online Midday Prayer           Thursdays at 12.30 on Zoom

The Well                                 First Sundays of the month at 6.30pm. For more information go to: https://www.thewellbirmingham.org

Spiritual Direction

‘The goal of spiritual direction is spiritual formation—the ever-increasing capacity to live a spiritual life from the heart. A spiritual life cannot be formed without discipline, practice, and accountability.’ – Henri Nouwen

In Spiritual direction the director (or Soul Friend) does not direct your life! Instead, they hold a safe, confidential, sacred space where you can bring your whole self; where you will be accepted and listened to without fear of judgement. What happens in this space is determined by you. You may want to explore different ways of praying or discern where you are being called in times of transition. You may want to think about your life in light of your spiritual journey… anything that you feel is impacting upon your relationship with God.

You do not need to be a particularly ‘holy person’ to enter into this kind of relationship – honest seeking is always the best starting point!

If you would like an informal conversation about Spiritual Direction, with me or someone else, then do be in touch.