Why Religion at Hull?

'From Hell, Hull and Halifax, Good Lord, deliver us.'

Why read Religion at Hull? Although the old beggar's litany linked Hull with Hell rather than Heaven, one cannot walk far through its streets without encountering the vital role religion has played here. Holy Trinity, the largest parish church in England, and the imposing Minster in nearby Beverley, testify to the vitality of medieval Christianity. As a radical Protestant city, Hull closed its gates on King Charles I and started the Civil War. While on evangelical Christian principles, its 19th-century Member of Parliament William Wilberforce successfully campaigned against the slave trade. Today, the city is host to a variety of faiths reflecting Britain's wider multi-cultural society.

Religion/Theology has been taught at Hull since just after the Second World War, and the Department can boast such distinguished former members as R.N. Whybray (Old Testament), A.T. Hanson (New Testament and the early Church), and James Atkinson (Reformation). Today its staff cover Indian religions as well as the Judaeo-Christian tradition, and contribute to the University's specialist expertise in Indian studies. Teaching in the Department is informed by high-quality research: our lecturers are at the cutting-edge of scholarship in their respective fields.

Religion/Theology at Hull is dedicated to providing excellent teaching and a supportive but challenging environment for our students.  Our teaching has been declared 'Excellent' (23 points out of 24) by the QAA, and Hull recently achieved the highest ranking for student satisfaction among UK departments of Theology and Religious Studies in the National Student Survey 2006.

History of Religion at Hull