Meet the Team

Revd Caroline Kennedy

Before training to be a priest in the Church of England, I had a ‘normal’ life (!), working as a French teacher in large comprehensive schools, and having two children. I loved teaching: seeing progress and building relationships with young people. I’ve also worked as an Ecumenical Chaplain for Northumbria University and Carlisle College, and taught French in primary schools. At the moment, I still work part- time as chaplain in a large Church secondary school, and have a very clear sense of the demands (and enjoyment), for staff and students there. Most of my life has been bound up with education, and I believe passionately in its presence, and in its power to transform lives and communities.  I also understand something of its pressures: those of working as an employee of educational institutions, and those of trying to meet deadlines as a student. (I’m still studying!)

I think of chaplaincy in a university setting as being very much to do with connections and building bridges.  I believe there are strong and obvious links between education and the exploration of faith; in terms of the pursuit of truth and justice and the promotion of open and questioning minds. I see chaplains in this setting as people who will walk alongside staff and students, supporting them in their work, searches, growth and struggles, as well as providing spaces and places for exploration, worship, reflection and community.

I hope to meet you! When term is underway, I’ll be out and about. I love talking to people, so do say hi if I don’t say it first!

Email: caroline.kennedy@cumbria.ac.uk, 
Phone: 01228 279266

Revd. Caroline Kennedy, Chaplain

I’m the newest member of the team in Carlisle, and am really looking forward to meeting staff and students, and to learning about the different campuses.

Before training to be a priest in the Church of England, I had a ‘normal’ life (!), working as a French teacher in large comprehensive schools, and having two children. I loved teaching: seeing progress and building relationships with young people. I’ve also worked as an Ecumenical Chaplain for Northumbria University and Carlisle College, and taught French in primary schools. At the moment, I still work part- time as chaplain in a large Church secondary school, and have a very clear sense of the demands (and enjoyment), for staff and students there. Most of my life has been bound up with education, and I believe passionately in its presence, and in its power to transform lives and communities.  I also understand something of its pressures: those of working as an employee of educational institutions, and those of trying to meet deadlines as a student. (I’m still studying!)

I think of chaplaincy in a university setting as being very much to do with connections and building bridges.  I believe there are strong and obvious links between education and the exploration of faith; in terms of the pursuit of truth and justice and the promotion of open and questioning minds. I see chaplains in this setting as people who will walk alongside staff and students, supporting them in their work, searches, growth and struggles, as well as providing spaces and places for exploration, worship, reflection and community.

I hope to meet you! My office is in the Blencathra building, close to Reception on Fusehill St campus, and once term is underway, I’ll be out and about. I love talking to people, so do say hi if I don’t say it first!

Email: caroline.kennedy@cumbria.ac.uk, 
Phone: 01228 279266

Revd. Clare Sheperd, Chaplain

Although I was born in Chorley, I grew up in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines because my parents were missionaries. I studied Modern Foreign Languages in Coventry, Criminology as an apprentice Probation Officer in Coventry and Theology in London. I have a very varied CV and I believe in life long learning.

After working in parish work in Surrey and London, I moved up to Lancaster in 2024 because my husband got a job as a curate at St Thomas’s church. I was lucky enough to find this role as a chaplain at this university. We have a dog, Dibley, and a cat, Winston. You may well meet Dibley if you see me around the Lancaster campus, he often does a stint as a voluntary chaplaincy assistant.

I love reading novels, and I am a frequent visitor to our library. You can usually find me around the Lancaster campus, or in the chaplaincy office which is in the back of St Martin’s Chapel.

Contact Clare

Email: clare.shepherd@cumbria.ac.uk, Phone: 07483 376 211

Nawaz Munshi, Hon. Muslim Chaplain

Contact Nawaz

Email: nawaz@sultanoflancaster.com, Phone: 01524 385689

Revd Richard Bray, Hon. Chaplain

Hi, I’m Richard, your Church of England chaplain for the London campus. I became a Christian while I was a student, when my friends persuaded me to look at the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.

After a few years working for a media company, I’ve been in full-time church work for a number of years and am now pastor (from September 2014) of St Anne’s Church, Limehouse. I’d love to hear from you, whether you want to chat about a pastoral matter or discuss the big questions of life.

Email: richard.bray@stanneslimehouse.org, 
Phone: 07798 940 554