About

Chris originally studied Philosophy and English before going on to complete an MA and PhD in Theology. He has been involved in Christian ministry with UCCF as a Regional Staff worker and as a Church pastor. He was the senior pastor of Alderholt Chapel in Dorset for over ten years.

Chris’ PhD was on Christian responses to the World Religions and, in particular, the theology of John Hick. However, he also has a great interest in archaeology and the Bible. He has been involved in the Bethsaida Excavations Project in the Galilee and published in this area.

Chris is married to Ros, herself a Youth and Community worker in a local church. Together they have two children and a West Highland Terrier. Chris speaks at both local churches and national events. He is regularly writing and publishes a monthly column with the newspaper Evangelicals Now. He continues on the leadership team of a local church and regularly preaches there.

Teaching

Undergraduate modules:

• Christian Doctrine
• Biblical Backgrounds
• Apologetics
• Old Testament

Postgraduate:

• Apologetics

Publications

Published books

• “The Bible and the Spade: Archaeological Exploration at et-Tell in the Light of Gospel Accounts”, in Fred Strickert and Richard Freund (eds.). A Festschrift in Honor of Rami Arav: “And They Came to Bethsaida…” (Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019). 
• John Hick and the Universe of Faiths: A Critical Evaluation of the Life and Thought of John Hick (Paternoster Press, 2015).
• Backchat: Answering Christianity’s Critics (Christian Focus, 2014).
• Time Travel to the Old Testament (IVP, 2013).
• Confident Christianity (IVP, 2012).
• Reconstructing Theology, edited with Tony Gray, (Paternoster, 2000).

Articles in magazines, books and journals

• ‘Unearthing the Old Testament’, Christianity Magazine, (April, 2016).
• ‘The Lord of the Kings: 1 Kings 8:6–-21” in Elizabeth McQuiod (ed.), Really? Searching for Reality in a Confusing World (IVP, 2015).
• ‘Are there many paths to God?’, Christianity Magazine, (July 2014).
• ‘Growing a rural ministry’, Evangelicals Now, (February 2014).
• ‘A Theologian explains why he is not an Atheist’ in David J.Randall (ed.), Why I am Not an Atheist: Facing the Inadequacies of Unbelief (Christian Focus, 2013).
• ‘One Light, Many Lamps: In Conversation with John Hick’, Reform, February 2013.
• ‘Youth and Old Age: Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:8’ in Elizabeth McQuiod (ed.), Going the Distance (IVP, 2013).
• ‘A Different Kind of Treasure: Matthew 6:19–24’ in Creation, Chaos and Christ (Authentic Media, 2008).
• ‘Exclusivism’ in Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin McGrath (eds), New Dictionary of Apologetics (IVP, 2006).
• ‘John Hick: Religion for the Modern World?’ in Philip Duce and Daniel Strange (eds), Getting Your Bearings: Engaging with Contemporary Theologians (Apollos, 2003).
• ‘Confessing Christ in a Pluralist Culture’ in Timothy Bradshaw (ed.), Grace and Truth in the Secular Age (Eerdmanns, 1998).

Research interests

Chris presented a paper at the 2018 British New Testament Society on archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels. In 2019 he is presenting a paper on the culture of Geshur at the Liverpool University Archaeology and Bible Conference. His current research interests are in the archaeology of the Galilee on which he continues to write and be involved in fieldwork. Chris is also researching the scholarship of F. F. Bruce and its value for the Doctrine of Scripture. His interest in apologetics motivates much of his study in areas related to the historicity of the Bible and contemporary culture.

Watch: Christian Theology Applied: ‘What is Theology?’