Funding Success: £123k secured from the British Academy to explore minority religious, spiritual, and sacred spaces in the North of England
Dr Terence Heng, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, has secured a prestigious Mid-Career Fellowship award from the British Academy to capture minority religious, spiritual, and sacred spaces in the North of England. The £154.2k research project has been awarded funding of £123.2k from the British Academy.
The interdisciplinary research project, titled ‘Visualising Minority Religious, Spiritual, and Sacred Spaces in North England’, focusses on sacred and spiritual spaces often hidden away from the British public. The project will run from October 2023 – September 2024, and cover counties and cities in the North of England.
Despite increasingly reported non-religious behaviours in the United Kingdom, religion and spirituality are still important, core concepts for many individuals. In this research, Dr Heng aims to once again bring to forefront the multi-layered spirituality of the North of England, showcasing what he believes to be a visually rich and culturally significant sacred landscape.
By undertaking a visual, sociological, and cultural geographical study of these areas, the research aims to de-mystify the spaces, and places, where worship and other spiritual activities occur. This research project aims to develop a visual and digital record of the heritage of various religious and spiritual movements in North England, and, showcase to the public the diversity of sacred landscapes in the UK.
Speaking of the fellowship award, Dr Terence Heng said:
"I am excited to photograph and document the rich and diverse spiritual heritage of North England. Many sacred spaces, whether official or unofficial, remain hidden in plain sight. With this project, I hope to bring together a visual record of the everyday spaces of faith, religion and spirituality.”
Professor Susan Pickard, Head of the Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology, said:
“This success in such a prestigious and competitive scheme indicates the high quality and originality of Terence’s research. To be granted this award is a testament to the supportive research culture we have built up in both the Department and the School in recent years, including the STAR programme and other mentoring and research development structures. I want to wish Terence all the congratulations as he embarks on this innovative research project”.
Find out more
- View Dr Terence Heng's staff profile
- Visit the Department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology webpages