Edward A. David

I am delighted to share that I have been appointed a Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. This new and non-stipendiary role—which I’ll hold in addition to my full-time role at King’s—is very much a homecoming. Blackfriars has had a tremendous impact on my academic and personal life, and I am honoured to continue my research alongside this remarkable community.

My journey at Blackfriars began in 2015, with the start of my doctoral studies. Blackfriars then, as it is now, was not your typical Oxford institution: its small, tight-knit community fostered an intellectual and social intimacy that is rare in higher education. With a student body of around forty (at least during my student days), Blackfriars was more than just a place of study—it was home.

The Junior Common Room (JCR) was the beating heart of student life. I have fond memories of Christmas parties, formal halls, and conversations that stretched into the early hours of the morning. Our JCR was an eclectic mix of personalities and academic backgrounds, yet we found common ground in the humble ethos of the Hall.

During my time as a DPhil student, I also served as Junior Dean from 2015 to 2018, living on site and supporting students alongside Blackfriars’ outstanding pastoral provisions. This role gave me a deeper appreciation of what made the Hall unique—not just as an academic institution, but as a chosen home for those who studied there. Blackfriars students genuinely wanted to be there, and the Hall’s intimate size and strong sense of community made it a rare and special place.

Another defining feature of Blackfriars was its extraordinary people. The Dominican friars—many of whom held multiple PhDs—brought a unique combination of scholarly rigour and spiritual depth. Some entered religious life after distinguished careers in other fields, adding a richness to their teaching and example. Alongside them, the professional services staff (scholars in their own right) and the Dominican sisters (who provided pastoral care) made Blackfriars an intellectually and spiritually nourishing environment.

That same ethos of scholarship and community remains today. To return to Blackfriars as a Research Fellow is both a privilege and a joy. I am proud to have received my DPhil here, and prouder still to contribute to the ongoing work of this vibrant intellectual and spiritual community.

For more about my research, you can visit my Blackfriars profile here.