Honorary Fellow

Philip Plyming

Philip Plyming is Dean of Durham and leads the life and mission of Durham Cathedral. After attending a local comprehensive school in Sussex, Philip studied German and Russian at Cambridge University followed by Theology at Durham University while training for ministry at Cranmer Hall from 1998-2001. His PhD was awarded by Edinburgh University for research into Paul’s hardship narratives in 1 and 2 Corinthians, and his book Being Real: The Apostle Paul’s Hardship Narratives and The Stories We Tell Today is published by SCM.

Philip served his curacy at Christ Church, Chineham, an ecumenical church in the Diocese of Winchester, and was ordained priest in 2002. During his curacy he led a team which ran a popular Youth Alpha course and planted a youth congregation. In 2006, Philip was appointed Vicar of Claygate, in the Diocese of Guildford, a church which in 11 years grew from three to five Sunday congregations and also planted a further church nearby. From 2012 Philip additionally served as Area Dean of Emly, introducing a Deanery Growing Leaders course used by a range of churches. Philip was elected to the General Synod in 2009 and served until 2021, serving on a range of committees including the Simplification Task Group.

Philip was Warden of Cranmer Hall, St John’s College, Durham, from 2017 to 2023, where he taught New Testament and Christian Leadership and also started and hosted the popular podcast Talking Theology.

Our Fellows

Michael Bird

Honorary Fellow

Michael Bird was a Director and Managing Director at the Johnson Service group from 1960 until 1994, before becoming Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 2002. From 2004 to 2011 he chaired the Audit Committee of Durham University Council, and was the Trustee Pension Fun

David Day

Honorary Fellow

After teaching for 15 years in secondary schools, David Day moved into higher education, holding appointments both in Theology and Religious Education. For eighteen years he held the post of Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Durham University and for seven years was Principal of St John’

James Newcome

Honorary Fellow

James Newcome read history at Trinity College, Oxford. After a year spent driving an ambulance in Hertfordshire he trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. A curacy in Watford was followed by a return to Cambridge as tutor in the Cambridge Federation and minister of an Ecumenical Project in

John Pritchard

Honorary Fellow

Born in Salford, John Pritchard read jurisprudence at St Peter’s College, Oxford, graduating with a BA degree in 1970, before studying Theology for two years at three years at Oxford and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He took an MLitt in Practical Theology at Durham. He was ordained in the Church of

Nigel Sherlock

Honorary Fellows

Sir Nigel Sherlock joined the St John’s College Council in 1984, where he played an active part in raising funds for the Leech Hall. His professional career was centred around Investment Management, but he also sought in a number of ways to contribute to improving the well-being of those living in

Peter Shaw

Honorary Fellows

Peter is a founding partner of Praesta Partners, a specialist coaching organisation. Formerly a Director General in the UK Government, he has coached senior leaders and teams across six continents in the private, public and voluntary sectors. He has written 27 books on aspects of leadership. Some ha

Mark Tanner

Honorary Fellows

The Rt Revd Dr Mark Tanner is the Bishop of Chester, Chair of the Church of England’s Ministry Development Board, and member of the Archbishops’ Council. He has previously served as Bishop of Berwick in the Diocese of Newcastle, Warden of Cranmer Hall and one of the Vice-Principals of St