We are delighted to announce that, following a successful recruitment process, Revd Dr Chris Swift has been appointed as Leeds Church Institute’s new Director.

Chris is an Anglican priest who has spent over thirty years working in community ministry and chaplaincy for various organisations. He served two terms as President of the College of Health Care Chaplains, and has published a number of books, including Chaplaincy in the Twenty-first Century. Following the completion of his doctorate in 2005 Chris has contributed to a number of academic centres, including the University of Leeds, where he is a Visiting Fellow in the School of Philosophy, Religion, and the History of Science. Chris lives in York and will take up his post in December this year.

On his appointment, Chris said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed as the next Director of LCI. Building on the excellent foundation of the charity’s past developments, I am excited by the significant challenges and opportunities for its mission to enable Christian learning and education. Having worked in the city previously, as Head of Chaplaincy in the Teaching Hospitals, I am aware of the dynamic and diverse communities which live and work in Leeds. I look forward to working with LCI colleagues, and the Trustees, to discern where the charity can extend and deepen its impact in the UK’s third largest urban centre.”

Chris will attend the Hook Lecture on Wednesday the 23rd October, where he is looking forward to being introduced to the LCI community.