Are you called to ordained ministry in the Church of England, but worry that academic study may not suit you?
At St Hild, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to grow, learn, and prepare for ministry on training pathways that play to their strengths.
Available at Sheffield, Mirfield, Lincoln & Online
We offer 2-3 years part-time and full-time
A New Way to Train for Ordained Ministry
Our new Alternative Learning Pathway* is designed for students who learn best through discussion and creative problem-solving, rather than traditional written assessments. It provides a training pathway for those who know that standard academic methods will not connect with the ways they learn. 
You’ll engage in real conversations, explore practical challenges, and develop your ministry skills as you: 
- Learn through conversation and reflection, focused on issues that you bring to the discussion
- Engage with real-world ministry issues in a supportive and collaborative environment
- Grow in confidence and skills without the pressure of conventional academic assessments
The assessments on this pathway won’t lead to a Durham University award, but they will allow you to showcase your learning and gain from feedback in ways that suit you best. They will also ensure that on completion of the pathway, you will be recommended for ordination on an equal basis with any other ordinand.
If you’re passionate about ministry and want to train in a different way, then this could be the perfect path for you.
* ‘Alternative Learning Pathway’ is only a temporary name for this new approach. We have agreed that the first group of students will choose the pathway’s permanent name. A key component of our approach is that the ordinands on this pathway feel a real sense of partnership in their own learning.
Want to learn more?
Get in touch with either of us to explore how this pathway could help you step into your calling with confidence.
Shona Shaw, Alternative Learning Pathways Tutor
Justin Thacker, St Hild Dean of Studies
explore other options
Anglican Ordination
Part-time and full-time training pathways over two or three years to suit your circumstances
The Elizabeth Pathway
AÂ route into ministerial training for experienced lay leaders aged 53 or over.
Licensed Lay Training
Training for those who feel called to Licensed Reader Ministry within the Church of England
Mirfield Residential Contextual Pathway
Our partnership with the College of the Resurrection (CoR) in Mirfield enables CoR ordinands to access St Hild’s full-time contextual training and academic studies.
Rural Ministry Track
Rural ministry is a rich and rewarding ministry which is typically deeply embedded in place.
Mission on the Margins
Are you engaged in mission with, or feel that God may be calling you to work in, marginalised communities?
Christian Spirituality
The Christian Spirituality specialism, offered in partnership with the St Hild Centre for Spirituality, gives you the chance to deepen your study of Christian spiritual traditions.
Church Planting Track
Building on the UK Church’s long history of mission and church planting — and its renewed energy today — this track invests in training the church planters of the future