Study of Religions: Farmington Fellowships and Research Themes
19th-20th Century Transformations of Religion is a departmental research theme which encourages research into transformations of religion in areas including Japan, India and the Muslim world as well as the UK.
Annual Conference. For several years the Department has hosted an annual conference. Further details of future conferences will be posted here in due course.
BACRA, the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs. The Study of Religions also houses the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs (BACRA) as a resource available for student access. The archive collects information from a range of different sources but relating to all aspects of religion - with special emphasis on new religious movements as well as current events. For access to the files, contact any member of the SoR staff. Students are also encouraged to contribute to the archives relevant news clippings, pamphlets, website addresses, etc. that pertain to religion and religious/cultural studies. BACRA is part of an international network relating to information storage and dissemination.
Religious Education in International Perspective encapsulates themes in research being developed principally by staff specialising in Religious Education.
Farmington Fellowships. The Study of Religions and the Religious Education Departments have a proven track-record in supporting teachers awarded Farmington Fellowships and Awards.
These Awards, administered by the Farmington Institute for Christian Studies, Oxford, enable serving teachers from Primary and Secondary Schools, Maintained or Independent, to undertake a term of study, research or the production of educational materials relating to an area of Religious Education. The facilities of the College are at the disposal of the Award Holder for the term, and a weekly meeting with one of the College staff is provided. Finance is provided to deploy a replacement teacher in the Award Holder's school. Recent award holders and fellows include:
- 1997/1998 Jane Lee: 'Religious Education and the Expressive Arts'
- 1998/1999 Sue Rodford: 'Supporting Multifaith RE in the rural primary school with particular reference to the Early Years', Ian Scales: 'A Fresh Look at Moral Education'
- 1999/2000 Adrian Trapp: 'Ecology and World Religions'
- 2000/2001 Richard Davidson: 'Animal Rights/Theology'. Richard has a website well under construction on this topic for the use of schools.
Further details about the Awards are available at the College, or from the Farmington Institute direct. The subject matter must relate to an area of Religious Education and more recently a number of places have been made available concerning Special Needs and R.E. Teachers themselves may be of any faith or of none, and must undertake some R.E. Teaching at their school. A prospective Award Holder must submit an A4 summary of the proposed area for study, usually by early February for an Award in the following academic year.
The Award Holder is expected to produce a Study Plan for the term, to give a presentation, to complete a Report on the term's work, and to attend at least two annual conferences at the Farmington Institute, Oxford.
The scheme is an unrivalled opportunity for professional development, and should be given serious consideration by any local teacher.