Revd Dr Allison Fenton

I started at Queen's in January 2021. One of the things which attracted me here was Queen’s commitment to ecumenical working, accompanied by a confidence in both Methodist and Anglican identities.

Following my first degree, which was in English, I worked for several years as an English teacher, and eventually as a Religious Studies teacher. In 2000 I started training as a Reader in the Diocese of Durham and then in 2006 I joined Cranmer Hall to train for ordained ministry. Since then, I have served in parishes in Newcastle and Durham dioceses; I have also worked in ministerial training and formation for lay and ordained ministers in the North East and Cumbria.

I completed my doctoral studies in 2017; my thesis was entitled: ‘An Ethnography of Baptism: Meaning-Making for Mothers in the North-East of England.’

I am responsible for Anglican admissions at Queen’s. As part of this role, I meet those people who are discerning their vocation to ordained ministry and who are considering whether Queen’s is the right place for them to train be ‘formed’. I organise open days and am always happy to talk about what a fabulous place Queen’s is.

My direct line is 0121 452 2609

Qualifications

1987	Durham University	English Language and Medieval Literature BA (Hons)
1990	Durham University	PGCE English and Drama
2008	Cranmer Hall, Durham	MATM (distinction)
2017	Durham University	DThM

Publications

Co-edited, Modern Believing special edition ‘Childlessness’, Vol 60:2 April 2019

Book review: ‘Broken bodies: the Eucharist, Mary and the body in trauma theology.’ Practical Theology, 12(1), January 2019, pp. 106–107

‘A Case Study: Elaine Graham and The Good City’ in Stephen Burns and Anita Monro (eds) Public Theology and the Challenge of Feminism, (Abingdon: Routledge, 2015).

‘A Response to Postnatal Depression: Should we bring back Churching?’ in Theology and Ministry, St John’s College, 2012, http://www.dur.ac.uk/theologya...

Research Interests

• Theology of Mothering/Childlessness
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Feminist Practical Theology
• Christening/Baptism