PhD Project: Christian Connections and Faithful Citizenship: Black Majority Churches in Birmingham

About the project

As Britain’s ‘second city’, Birmingham is known for its vibrant international and multicultural population with long histories of coexistence and exchange, as well as extensive transnational connections. According to Population UK, Black British people comprise 9% of the population, and the number of Black Majority Churches (BMCs) in the city is significant and growing (Rogers 2017). This ‘community’ is internally very diverse, comprising those with Caribbean and African heritage. At a time when the UK has witnessed a decline in Christian affiliation, BMCs are thriving. These churches are more than religious institutions – they also act as social and cultural hubs. Through a gathered church model, they draw together believers from near and far, while also engaging with the local communities in which they are based. In a context of ongoing austerity and a cost-of-living crisis, BMCs play an increasingly important role in providing various kinds of social support. Moreover, they continue to be vital resources for new arrivals to Birmingham from around the globe.

Against this backdrop, the student would design and carry out a qualitative research project focused on Black Majority Churches in Birmingham. The aim of the project would be to better understand BMCs and the diverse communities they foster, bringing new insights into the (racialised) lived experience of Birmingham’s inhabitants and shedding light on how faith-based institutions shape a multicultural postcolonial Britain. The research could take one of the following thematic questions as its central focus:

1. Civic and social engagement – as ostensibly civic institutions, how do BMCs conceive of and deliver social support to congregants and the wider public and, more broadly, how do they relate to other community resources, as well as city and national government?
2. Migration and belonging – in what ways do BMCs and congregants who are long-term residents in Birmingham help the newly arrived develop a sense of belonging and contribute to re-shaping how home is understood and imagined?
3. Health and wellbeing – with concerns rising about isolation and loneliness, and their links to mental ill health, what role do BMCs (seek to) play in mitigating the situation in practical and/or spiritual terms?
4. Religious – as diverse worshippers come together in these multi-cultural churches, what new forms of religious worship are emerging in Birmingham and how are they transforming Christianity more generally?

These themes are heuristics, which in practice overlap significantly, and the student could engage with several of them as they develop their research project.

Selection Criteria:

The ideal candidate for this PhD would have a social science or religious studies background. They would hold a good Honours degree, as well as an MA degree and/or equivalent experience. They should have experience of conducting qualitative research. Experience of working with faith-based communities would be desirable, as would a willingness to engage in creative methods (e.g. photography, sound recordings).

For further information, please contact the project supervisors, Dr Juliet Gilbert (j.gilbert.2@bham.ac.uk) or Dr Leslie Fesenmyer (l.fesenmyer@bham.ac.uk).

Entry Requirements

Candidates should hold a good Honours degree (usually First or Upper Second Class or equivalent). They should ideally hold a Masters degree in a social science discipline or in religious studies. Relevant work experience (e.g. in faith based communities) would also be looked on favourably in lieu of an MA degree.

Contact the lead supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant’s suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.