Reverend Dr Elizabeth Macfarlane MA, DPhil Oxon

I came to St John’s as Chaplain in 2011, having worked as a parish priest in Watford and Marlow. I read English as an undergraduate at St Hugh’s, then Theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon. I completed my doctorate while working full time in parish ministry, and I’m delighted to have had that opportunity as one of the first cohort of Oxford’s part-time students.

As Chaplain of St John’s, my major responsibility is the welfare and wellbeing of the entire community – students, academics and staff, in addition to directing the worshipping life of the chapel. I am part of the College Welfare team and secretary to the Chapel and Patronage Committee. During the year 2017-18 I am serving as one of the University’s pro-proctors; I was a member of the working party on student tragedy in 2017.

My most recent publications are on commemorative culture in the nineteenth century, and I am also interested in book history. I am working – when time allows – on a study of The Ingoldsby Legends – a print phenomenon in the Victorian period that influenced everyone from Dickens to Conan Doyle.