The Chronicle’s Catchup continues: this time with College Chaplain, Liz Kent. Find out about her passion for the Northeast, rifle shooting, and paddleboarding in this must-read interview with Luca Hughes-Joshi.
Give us a brief description of your role in college:
As the college chaplain, I’m here to provide a listening, non-judgemental ear. It doesn’t matter whether you have a faith or not, or what faith that may be, I am here for support. I am also responsible for certain acts of worship in college, including Communion which takes place on Tuesday nights, and Evensong on Wednesdays. And there’s the occasional college event that I will coordinate as well, such as Remembrance and Holocaust Memorial.
What made you decide to become a reverend? Did you work in any other fields before that?
Being a reverend was never actually part of my original plan. I studied law at university and continued as a land law tutor whilst I did my Master’s in Liverpool. It was at the same time that I started working for the university church as a non-ordained person, which I loved. I then decided to train for ministry and ended up looking after churches in Gateshead and Chester-Le-Street before coming here as Chaplain and Director of the Wesley Study Centre.
What makes John’s John’s?
I have to say the people. There’s something about the spirit of John’s which I feel is wonderful – even though generations come and go, the openness to learning from others never changes. And such is everyone’s hospitality and amicability here, it’s like one big family.
Agreed. There are a couple of people who I’ve spoken to who have had relatives in older generations come to John’s – it’s clearly a sought-after college.
Yes, definitely. And it’s the relationships that people build here that adds to the strong feeling of community. John’s level of diversity is what makes it truly unique: with Undergraduates, Postgraduates, and Cranmore, there are people of different ages, different backgrounds, different perspectives on life, different subjects, different interests – and because it’s one of the smaller colleges within the university, you can get to know people quite well.
Definitely. I’ve only been here since late September, and out of all the Freshers at least, I’d say I know 90% of them by now. It is lovely being able to strike up a conversation with anybody in the college.
with Undergraduates, Postgraduates, and Cranmore, there are people of different ages, different backgrounds, different perspectives on life, different subjects, different interests
Favourite spot in college?
I really love the view from my office window. You get to see life going past the window – people at times will wave on the way past and it makes me feel connected to the goings-on around the Bailey.
Anywhere else?
Well it would be a bit of a cliché to say the chapel, but some of the most significant moments of my life have been connected with it, so it certainly is one of the more special places for me in college.
Let’s move on to Durham now then: what’s your favourite spot in the city?
It’s tough to pin it down to just one part of Durham! I may have to give you a couple. Firstly, I love the walk across Prebends Bridge – I do it everyday on my way to John’s and I find the view is never the same. When the leaves are turning in the autumn, it’s absolutely stunning; when it’s winter and it’s frosty and cold, there’s something magical about it. I’m not sure whether this is true or an urban myth, but the bridge and its view was apparently the inspiration for C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia!
I also love the view up on Observatory Hill. You get a spectacular view of the city and the cathedral – I’d highly recommend you go up there sometime if you haven’t already.
What’s your experience with the Northeast? Were you born around here? How long have you lived in this region?
I was born in Sheffield, but I’ve actually spent more time living in the Northeast than anywhere else in the country. Given both my children were born here as well, even though you’ll never be able to take by Yorkshire roots away from me, I do also feel like an adopted Geordie.
I’ve been connected with John’s for over 20 years – and it feels like every time I leave, I’m connected by an elastic band which forces me to come back eventually. I’ve been here as a student, a spouse, a parent (my two kids were in the creche here), a tutor, a director of the study centre, and now as a Chaplain.
You’ll be taking the role as College Principal next!
I doubt that! But I’ve had so many different roles, experiences and encounters with this college – it feels like it is a part of me.
One of the other things I love about Durham is when you walk down the Bailey, you’re inevitably going to bump into somebody you know. It’s getting to the stage that I have to allow extra time to walk from town to college because I know I’m going to end up talking to somebody on the way!
Favourite author?
I’ve got a whole range of them – it’s another question that’s hard to narrow down just to one answer. Let’s say LJ Ross – she’s written a lot of detective mysteries about the Northeast and I love the connections I feel with places that I know and that I’ve visited which feature in her novels.
Favourite TV series or film?
Big fan of Inspector Morse, Lewis and Endeavor – if you can count those as a trilogy.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you:
I’ve flown aerobatics in a two-seater plane over Conisbrough Castle, and I’ve won a trophy for rifle shooting – not always things that people necessarily think a Chaplain might have done!
Another niche one – I’ve walked all the way across Spain!
Oh wow! And how long did that take?
31 days to cover about 500 miles!
Where are you happiest?
If I’m on my own, I’m happiest up a mountain, or walking on a trail somewhere – anywhere where you can just see, smell and feel nature. But I equally love being with my family – although my girls aren’t always the happiest going for country walks, so a balance often needs to be struck between the two! I also love paddleboarding – after Marija’s interview last term, people are going to think all the staff at John’s have an obsession with the sport!
Agreed, I would highly recommend going to somewhere rural in North Yorkshire or County Durham to go for a run or walk – if anything just to appreciate the solitude of it.
And finally, have you got any advice that you’d give to students in John’s?
Nothing is wasted. Sometimes in life you find yourself wandering ‘why am I here?’; ‘why have I done this?’; ‘why I have I spent my time invested in that?’; ‘why did I go through that experience?’. From my faith perspective, I believe that God can use anything to shape us into who we need to be or where we need to go. There is always potential for things to be redeemed.
Yes, I’d echo that – even though I’m not of a religious affiliation, that is still a message that is relevant to all of us; one we can all take to heart.
And finally, I feel we can all take something from the quote: ‘Always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then always be Batman’.
Excellent parting words Liz! Thank you ever so much for being interviewed by The Chronicle.
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