It was traditionally the case that priests were trained through full-time residential colleges, where they would live in a community at a theological college or institute for a number of years before becoming a curate. However, in answer to the need for greater flexibility, many theological educational institutions (TEIs) are introducing a range of pathways across a variety of locations. 

In Rachael’s case, she is studying part-time at Ripon College Cuddesdon, a historical college on top of a hill on the outskirts of the city of Oxford. She is on the accelerated track of this pathway. This means she is completing her studies over two years rather than three. Due to the increased pace, she has lessons on Tuesday evenings and stays over until Wednesday, as she also has classes in the morning. It also means that she has been able to stay in her home church and will engage in a couple of placements to widen her ministerial experience, alongside continuing to work 3 days a week in her role as a Graphic Designer.

Revd Wendy Bear had to be up and packed bright and early to get to Rachael's community-based placement at the St Philip's Centre in Leicester for 9am.

The diocese of Leicester is home to people from many different ethnicities and faiths. St Philip’s Centre aims to ‘empower people of all faiths – and those with no faith – to co-operate with each other for the good of all.' In practice this involves facilitating encounters and conversations between the many varied communities living and working in Leicestershire, arranging educational trips to different places of worship and educating individuals from schools, church workers and the public sector.

Rachael is spending 5 hours at St Philip’s Centre each Tuesday in order to complete her required 35 hours of community placement this year. Her hope is to learn a bit more about a few of the many religions in the diocese she is hoping to be licensed in.

The early afternoon was then spent in St Philip’s church itself in the company of a large group of primary school children. We were learning all about the faith and practices of Zen Buddhism from Reverend Aiden a Buddhist Monk within the order of Buddhist Contemplatives.

After a little restorative meditation, we hit the M1 to Cuddesdon.

Providing beautiful sunsets, in a peaceful rural setting, the village and college of Cuddesdon is a beautiful space for worship and reflection. The college boasts a number of training pathways including a full-time residential programme. This means it also has a good amount of social activities for not only ordinands but also their ‘ordinot’ partners and any of their kids (and pets!). By having an established community in residence the college has a family feel that part-time students like Rachael can benefit from too. 

Tuesdays always kick off at 3:30pm with a welcome cup of tea. At 4pm Rachael likes to get along to her small Rosary group before heading into the 4:30 eucharist before dinner, but sadly the traffic was not playing ball this week.

Instead, Revd Wendy bear grabbed a quick cuppa and a chocolate bar in the common room before heading to collect their room key and dump their luggage.

After Eucharist, it's time for dinner at 5:30pm. Ripon College Cuddesdon is an Eco College, and so all their food is cooked to order to avoid food waste. Meals are default vegetarian with an option to request a meat alternative if desired. Revd. Wendy Bear was pleased to see that College life followed a pattern of daily worship so that students were fed well in body, mind and spirit. Students take part in leading compulsory morning, and evening prayer as well as being on a rota for saying Grace at evening meals.

Evening Prayer takes place in the modern Edward King Chapel at 6:15 and is followed swiftly by a lesson at 6:45pm. Classes are a mix of students from different pathways and Revd Wendy Bear enjoyed a refresher on the Desert Fathers and mothers and the spirituality of Evagrius Ponticus.

Lessons run until 9:15 pm with a short 15-minute break for a hot drink and biscuit. Both Rachael and Revd Wendy Bear were glad of the caffeine boost to help them focus on the last bit of learning. Once lessons were over most of the part-time students who are studying over three years waved goodbye to Wendy Bear as they don't stay overnight.

For the accelerated pathway, context-based students and full-timers there was a choice between a service of compline or heading into the common room for a chance to catch up with each other and have a few drinks.

Breakfast starts at 8 am. Whilst there is silent contemplation available in the chapel from 7:30 am, Rachael did confess to Revd Wendy bear that she is yet to partake in its delights. After a leisurely hour for breakfast, Bear and ordinand headed back to the chapel for Morning Prayer and then to class.

Classes over the last two terms have covered a huge range of topics including Biblical studies, Mission and ministry, Christian worship and preaching, Pastoral Care and Christian Ethics, however, the good Reverend Bears' visit coincided with the end of one module and the beginning of another, meaning she got to attend rare spirituality double bill. This time they explored the origin and practice of Lectio Divina.

Due to her busy week, Rachael will often take the rest of her time on Wednesday to take advantage of the beautiful Library, situated next to the old chapel held within the main college building. This meant that after class Rev. Wendy Bear was left to explore the very lovely college buildings and grounds.

Students tend to be in their placement or home churches on Sundays and so Wednesday morning also makes space for the main act of community worship for the week. Midweek Eucharist alternates between contemporary and traditional style worship music, following a common worship service of Eucharist and generally includes a visit from a guest preacher.

And all too soon it’s time to go home again! Another term finished for Rachael and another adventure over for Rev Wendy Bear. Rachael will be back, bearless, at Cuddesdon after Holy week for a week-long intensive 'Easter School' and will be working on her written assignments and finishing her community placement in the lead-up to Easter.