First Clare and Hawley Chair in the History of Catholicism appointed

20 October 2025

Head and shoulders close-up of a man smiling directly at the camera. He has short dark hair and is wearing glasses.

Dr James Kelly has been appointed as the first holder of the Clare and Hawley Chair in the History of Catholicism.

The new chair, part of our Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS), is the first in the UK to be dedicated specifically to Catholic history.

History of Catholicism research cluster

James, a member of the CCS and our Department of Theology and Religion, will take up his post on 1November 2025. He leads the CCS’s History of Catholicism research cluster.

James is the author of “English Convents in Catholic Europe, c.1600–1800” and joint general editor of the five-volume series “The Oxford History of British and Irish Catholicism”.

He has also recently published “The Catholic Reformation: A Very Short Introduction”.

Generous support

The chair has been made possible through generous support from the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre and the Brentwood Ursulines.

It is named after Mother Mary Clare, foundress of the Ursuline Convent at Brentwood, and Susan Hawley, foundress of the English Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre.

The foundation of the chair is indicative of the ground-breaking research undertaken into the history of Catholicism over recent decades, work that has seen it become a major area of study.

I am particularly thankful to the support of the Brentwood Ursulines and the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre for making this position possible. Their foresight will ensure that the CCS and the University’s department of Theology and Religion will continue as a centre of research excellence into the history of Catholicism into the future.

Dr James Kelly

Clare and Hawley Chair in the History of Catholicism, CCS

James’ appointment consolidates the growth of the CCS’s international reputation in the History of Catholicism and strengthens the Centre’s partnership with religious congregations.

He will lead and develop this dynamic research area within the CCS, undertaking research and teaching in the History of Catholicism.

James will also continue to organise the triennial Early Modern British and Irish Catholicism Conference.

Find out more

Dr James Kelly staff profile.
More about our Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS).
History of Catholicism at the CCS.
Our Department of Theology and Religion is ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Visit our Theology and Religion webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.