Rev. Josh Richards 

I'm an Anglican priest and I have recently joined the Multifaith Chaplaincy team. It is a joy to be part of a community of 50,000 people dedicated to learning and research. 

And yet, I know from my own experience the constant temptation to look to academic or professional success for a sense of identity or belonging. The chaplaincy exists so that we can remind one another that our value is grounded in something beyond work or study. 

I studied History and Politics at Oxford, before working in politics for a few years in London, mainly on migration and refugee policy. I then trained for ordained ministry in Cambridge. I enjoyed studying theology so much that, while working for a church in North London, I started work on a PhD looking at the theology of intercessory prayer. 

You don't need to be Christian, or religious at all, to get in touch. I'm always glad to meet for coffee and to listen, whatever you'd like to talk about. I also run groups for those seeking to grow as disciples and for those exploring Christian faith.

I'm usually on campus Monday to Thursday, and on Sundays I'm at St Bartholomew's, Edgbaston, where I'm part of the team. The rest of the time I can usually be found accompanying my two-year-old as she samples every babyccino in Birmingham.

Email: j.b.richards@bham.ac.uk