Chaplains
Find out more about the chaplains who work at the Meeting House.
Need someone to talk to?
Are you struggling with a breakup or bereavement? Stressed about your studies? Or wondering about the big questions of life? Our chaplains are here for the whole campus and offer welcoming, informal support to all, whether you are religious or not, make an appointment by email or drop in anytime to see if someone is free to chat.
Alternatively, you may just want to sit in our beautiful chapel on the first floor and be quiet for a time, it is open to everyone, whatever your beliefs.
We provide weekly religious services and regular opportunities throughout the week for staff and students to de-stress and relax through mindfulness and meditation sessions. If you want to talk to one of the chaplains, then pop in and say hi during the day, or if you would rather make an appointment, drop us an email:
- James Croft, University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor
- Janine Thorogood, Administration Officer
Find specific dates and details of events and services.
Meet our chaplains
- Anglican
Rev. Preb. Alan Green
Alan has been a parish priest in Liverpool and East London and as well as the Anglican Chaplain at the University of Sussex is the parish priest of St Laurence, Falmer, which is the university’s local parish church.
He is available to all members of the University – whether Church of England, world-wide Anglican Communion, other denominations, world faiths and beliefs, or no faith at all – to offer support and pastoral care. He is inclusive in his outlook and very happy to assist students and staff in exploring faith and spirituality. Feel free to contact Alan if you wish to make use of any of the Sacraments of the Church, such as Baptism or Marriage.
Alan celebrates a regular Holy Communion service in the Meeting House at 12pm every Tuesday during term time. You are also very welcome to make your way up the hill to the village of Falmer to join the Sunday service of Holy Communion at the church of St Laurence, which begins at 10am.
Contact: alan.green@sussex.ac.uk
Andrew Jackson
Andrew is a lay (Anglican) Chaplain with responsibility for international students and has previously worked as part of the Chaplaincy team at University of Nottingham (1988-92) and the University of York (1993-2000).
Contact: aj218@sussex.ac.uk
- Buddhist
Paul Johanson
Paul Johanson, our Buddhist chaplain, was brought up as a Roman Catholic and began training at a Rinzai Zen temple in London under the guidance of Kyudo Roshi abbot of Ryutaku-Ji, from 1988 to 1992.
In 1991 he began sitting with a local Tibet Buddhist group called Maitrikara and met his current teacher, Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche: he has trained under his guidance since 1992.
Paul still feels a strong connection to his Christian roots and to his early Zen training. He is very interested in all spiritual paths and is deeply grateful for the wisdom that is made available by all the great religions traditions.
He is also very interested in the humanist/scientific traditions in western culture, particularly the new field of contemplative science.
Contact: pij20@sussex.ac.uk. - Catholic
Fr Rod Jones
Fr. Rod Jones is a Benedictine monk and priest from Worth Abbey. Before joining the Monastery, he studied architecture at Brighton University. As a student he became involved in the Catholic Chaplaincy, situated at that time in central Brighton. It was through the Chaplaincy that he first visited the Abbey. After completing his studies, in response to what he discerned to be an 'invitation' from the Lord, he joined the monastic community at Worth.
His appointment as the Roman Catholic Chaplain to Sussex University, brings him back to the place where his vocation as a priest and monk developed. There is something both fascinating and wonderful about the 'spiritual symmetry' of God's loving providence!
Contact: rod.jones@sussex.ac.uk
- Christian Missonary Alliance
Tai Ming Pang
Tai Ming is a missionary from Hong Kong as well as a Chinese Pastor at two churches in Brighton and Deptford, London (Brighton Alliance Church and East London Alliance Church).
He has lived in and around London for forty years and is happily married with three sons. His friends would describe him as easy-going and a good listener.
He is a positive person and enjoys other people's company but also values being by himself from time to time. He enjoys good books and movies, the countryside, and nature.
我是彭大明牧师，在香港出生，来英国生活已超过四十年，我有三个儿子，两个在外工作，最小的仍在大学，所以家中现时只有我和太太二人。我有一个很爱我的家庭，经常给我莫大的喜乐与支持。我是大学校园里的校牧，同时也是伦敦两所大学的校牧及两间教会的牧师。 朋友们形容我是个平易近人、温和、聆听者。我是一位很积极的人，喜欢与人相处并愿意尝试不同的挑战。我喜欢阅读、电影、大自然。 我很高兴能在校园里见到您（们），如果遇到困难或是有需要协助的事情，可直接与我联络。 我非常喜爱圣经里一句话： 「各人不要只顾自己的事，也要为别人的需要着想。」（腓立比书 2:4）
Contact: T.pang@sussex.ac.uk - Humanist
Lead Chaplain: Dr. James Croft
James, as University Chaplain and Lead Faith Advisor to the University of Sussex, heads up the University of Sussex Chaplaincy. A Humanist, James is nonreligious and believes that we all have a responsibility to create a world in which all people can lead a full and flourishing life.
James is the first (and so far the only) Humanist to lead a university chaplaincy, and works to create a service which is open to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs or philosophical convictions. James came to chaplaincy circuitously. He started his career as a secondary school teacher, then went to Harvard for a master’s and doctoral degrees in human development. At Harvard he got involved with the work of the Humanist Chaplaincy there, and that led (eventually) to the Chaplaincy at Sussex.
James has a particular passion for interfaith social justice work. He was a prominent Humanist voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, and was heavily involved in antiracist activism during Ferguson Uprising in St. Louis, Missouri. He believes strong interfaith relationships are essential for the fight for justice, and wants to promote those at Sussex.
James’ mission is to create a sense of belonging for all students and staff at the University of Sussex. As chaplain to the University, he is here to support everyone - Humanists and non-Humanists alike - and his door is always open to you. Reach out to James for to chat about life, to organise a wedding or memorial service for a loved one, or to learn more about philosophy and faith.
Contact: j.f.croft@sussex.ac.uk.
- Jewish
Rabbi Zalman Lewis
As a Jewish Chaplain at Sussex, Rabbi Zalman holds a weekly lunch 'n' learn session in the Students' Union, and can be spotted regularly in the various cafes, the library and around the Sussex campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Zalman and his wife Shterna, are the directors of Chabad South East Coast Universities, they have been supporting Jewish students in Brighton since 2004. Zalman works in close partnership with the University's Jewish Society, and also organises a range of events on campus and at Chabad House overlooking the Level Park in Brighton.
Events include weekly delicious, traditional, home-style Shabbat dinners, Jewish festival events, informal socials and inspiring and thought provoking study sessions in Jewish thought.
Contact: Z.lewis@sussex.ac.uk
Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber
Rabbi Gabriel have worked at Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue since summer 2022. Gabriel is a Sussex graduate (Politics and International Relations, 2011-14) and former President of the Jewish Society.
He knows what it's like to be Jewish and living away from home for the first time, and he’s always happy to connect with anybody struggling with the university experience.
Contact: g.kanter-webber@sussex.ac.uk
- Methodist
Sue Harrington
Sue is a lay Methodist with a progressive Christian outlook. The five Methodist churches in Brighton and Hove (the circuit) are inclusive and most of them have voted in favour of marriage equality.
Methodism is rooted in social justice, we are currently involved in a circuit-wide project supporting refugees and asylum seekers through the charities in Brighton & Hove who help them.
Community is also central to us; we love our food-based events! Methodists are said to sing our faith, so music is at our heart too.
On a personal note, Sue is concerned about environmental matters and is involved with a local climate action group. She feels that Craftivism, the art of gentle protest, is a quietly creative yet powerful force and resonates strongly with her.
Contact: sh2049@sussex.ac.uk - Muslim
Mahmoud Bukar-Maina
Mahmoud grew up in Nguru, Nigeria to a Muslim parent, and attended both Islamic and Western Schools. He joined the University of Sussex in 2011 to complete an MSc in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. He has since completed his PhD in Neuroscience and currently works as a postdoctoral research fellow in Neuroscience/Biochemistry at the School of Life Sciences.
During his time as a student, he was President of the Nigerian Society and served as a Treasurer of the Islamic Society and as a Students' Union Ambassador. He regularly visits Africa where he organises public engagement activities to promote public understanding of science and dispel religious misconceptions about it.
Contact: m.bukar-maina@sussex.ac.uk
- Orthodox
Fr. Father Ian Wallis
Father Ian was born in Brighton and graduated from University of Sussex with an Honours Degree in Education and Religious Studies. He believe that the Church’s mission today has to embrace not only the Ecumenical Movement but also interfaith relations. It is in the spirit of "Churches Together" that he undertakes his work as a chaplain, not only at the University of Sussex, but also in the local prisons at Lewes and Ford, as well as local hospitals
Contact: ian.wallis@sussex.ac.uk
- Pagan
Erin Johanson
Erin has been a part of the University of Sussex community since 2020, when she began her PhD in History. She also works in the Library as a Student Experience Supervisor, and as a Doctoral Tutor teaching (primarily) history modules to undergraduates. Her Pagan beliefs are primarily based in Celtic and Brythonic tradition, and she identifies as a Druid and Priestess of the Goddess of Avalon.
Erin is particularly passionate about embracing and promoting the individual and personal nature of Paganism. No two Pagans are alike! The beauty of Paganism is that it is open to and welcomes all – religious or non-religious.
Some Pagans also identify as Christian or Buddhist, and many identify as Atheist or Agnostic: the important thing is being open to the ideals of Paganism, being open to other beliefs, and being open to the individuality of every single being on the planet.
Contact: e.johanson@sussex.ac.uk.
- Quaker
Jason Evans
Jason has been a member of Brighton Quaker Meeting since 2002 and has served a number of roles including Overseer and Elder. He is now part of the Clerking team at Brighton Meeting.
He is a member of the Green Party and practices jazz harmonica and Taiji Quan. Particular interests relating to spirituality include Soto Zen, The Bhagavad Gita and Brighton's Interfaith scene. Within Quakerism, he is particularly enthusiastic about Experiment with Light (a Quaker meditation) and the distinctively Quaker approach to Christianity.
He is also interested in focusing, promoting good mental health, and reviving dreamwork as a Quaker spiritual practice.
Contact: jason.evans@sussex.ac.uk
- United Reformed Church
Kim Wood
Kim has spent some time in Denmark working with YWAM, Youth With A Mission. She read Theology at the London School of Theology and is married to a Minister of the United Reformed Church.
Kim has a heart for Pastoral Care and is happy to share her Christian faith.
She believes that the dignity and value of each individual are immeasurable. Her interests are listening to Classic FM and travel, mainly to Europe and North America
Contact: kim.wood@sussex.ac.uk.