Working mum joins Archbishop as judge for theological writing prize

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is pleased to announce that Revd Alison Fulford has been appointed as a judge for the 2009 Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing.

Rev Fulford will join a judging panel consisting of Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, winner of the 2007 Michael Ramsey Prize; writer AN Wilson; lecturer, writer and broadcaster, Dr Elaine Storkey; New Testament expert, Canon Dr Paula Gooder; and the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife, Jane, also a distinguished theological writer.

Rev Fulford is a working mum who looks after her toddler as well as serving in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham as a priest.

She is also taking a part-time MA in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham. She studied English literature at Cambridge University and then theology while training for ordination at Ridley Hall.

Rev Fulford was selected for the judging panel through a writing competition which was open to the general public.

"I am very happy to welcome Alison to our panel and am looking forward to hearing her views on the shortlisted titles," said Dr Williams.

The winner of the 2009 Michael Ramsey Prize will be announced in May 2009 at the Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival.

The Michael Ramsey Prize, awarded biennially, and worth £15,000, aims to encourage the most promising contemporary theological writing and to identify it for a wider Christian readership.

The biennial prize was inaugurated by Archbishop of Canterbury in 2005 to commemorate Dr Ramsey, who was Archbishop of Canterbury 1961-1974, and his commitment to increasing the breadth of theological understanding of people in general.

The Michael Ramsey Prize is administered by SPCK on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and is sponsored by the Lambeth Partners.