Fellowship in the History of Catholicism (c.1525–present day)
Applications are open for a three-year Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Catholic Studies in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, UK.
This fixed-term Fellowship has been made possible by a contribution from the Capuchin Franciscans of Great Britain. Founded in the sixteenth century, the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin, after initial controversies, quickly became a vital part of the global Catholic Reformation. Within this context, the first men from Britain entered the new order and soon returned to their homelands or worked within the international programme of Catholic reform; it is known that from the accession of Elizabeth I to 1800, at least 70 men entered the Order. Following Catholic emancipation in 1829 and the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in 1850, the Capuchin province was established in England, subsequently seeing the Franciscan presence revived in Oxford at Greyfriars in the early twentieth century, and the creation of international missions. The province now covers England, Scotland and Wales, grouped as Great Britain.
There is currently no modern piece of historical research into the Capuchins on the western peripheries of Europe that takes account of historiographical shifts in the last half century. For example, scholars little appreciate the long relationship between the Capuchins and Britain, which dates from the early modern period rather than being a product of the nineteenth century’s Catholic ‘second spring’ following emancipation. The successful candidate will have access to the Capuchins’ own archive in Erith, and the holder will be expected to supplement this research with trips to relevant archives within the UK in order to provide the widest possible context. The Capuchin Fellowship will allow the holder to research the largely unexplored history of the relationship between the Capuchins and Great Britain, to develop how the Capuchin experience in Britain dates from the early modern period, to link the history of the Order to the wider national and international context, and to highlight the significance of the Capuchin British experience for the study of the history of post-Reformation Catholicism. It will include not only research into the province after its formation in the nineteenth century, but also into individuals from Britain who entered the global Capuchin order during the early modern period. There are a number of potential routes that researchers could explore, such as the British Capuchins as part of global Catholicism, the history of Catholic social thought and practice, missionary activities, or the interaction between Britain and mainland Europe.
This is an opportunity for a first-rank researcher. Applications will be considered from candidates whose background lies across a range of disciplines. The Capuchin Fellow will conduct research with the aim of producing at least two pieces of scholarly output of the highest quality which can be submitted for publication by the end of the term of the Fellowship. The principle output will be a history of the relationship between the Capuchins and Great Britain that not only tells their story but situates it in the broadest possible context.
The closing date is 12.00 midnight on 28 October 2020.
Full details, including how to apply, can found at https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/jobdetail.ftl?job=20000553&lang=en
If you have any questions about this vacancy, please do not hesitate to contact the project’s Principal Investigator, Dr James Kelly – james.kelly3@durham.ac.uk
