I ask not to see the distant scene, a step enough for me - Cardinal Newman
Spaces of Hope is engaged in gatherings, networks, events and campaigns both on the margins of society and across the public square. This has been the case since our inception in 2016 with over 80 such engagements taking place since then. You can find out more about our interventions here and in the drop down menu, with gatherings detailed chronologically from 2016 to present, each offering a next step, following the inspiration of Cardinal Newman.
If you want to engage with us, you can by contacting Matthew.
If you want to engage with us, you can by contacting Matthew.
2025
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December 2025 - University of Roehampton - Practicing Hope in an era of poly-crisis.
In December 2025, Dr Barber-Rowell will meeting with other aspiring 'pracademics' to explore the different expressions of hope that have emerged from his professional practice working with different institutions who’re responding to poly-crises in the north west of England. |
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November 2025 - Susanna Wesley Foundation - Challenging the Extractive Economy: Humanist economics & Theology in Conversation
Dr Barber-Rowell has been invited to participate in this roundtable, sharing thoughts and insights that can be found within Spaces of Hope learning, for responding to the theological and economic challenges of our time. This gathering is hosted by the Susanna Wesley Foundation with whom Dr Barber-Rowell is a Research Associate. |
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November 2025 - Coventry Cathedral - A one day Retreat exploring "radical reconciliation in an era of poly-crisis"
A retreat that explores the contexts of crises shaping our world today, our lived experiences of crises, and an exploration of hopeful responses, which we might characterise in terms of leadership. In the sermon on the mount Jesus says, ‘by their fruits you’ll know them’ - this is a reference that will be made, which will orient the day as an experience rooted in our relationships with God, and expressed in ways that are to be discerned through prayerful practice. The retreat is open to adults from different traditions who are seeking to share hope in the public square. |
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October 2025 - Virginia Theological Seminary - a 3 part short course "cocreating radical responses to the poly-crisis"
In October 2025, Dr Barber-Rowell has been invited to gather with Seminarians to guide them through the process of Curating Spaces of Hope for themselves. Through this process, participants will diagnose the nature of the poly-crisis shaping our context today, understand something of our own experience of this in terms of radical living, and develop our responses using principles for transformational leadership. |
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September 2025 - The Book Launch - hosted at Nether Springs, Northumberland.
This is a recording of the book launch for Curating Spaces of Hope: Transformational Leadership for Uncertain Times, which was hosted at Nether Springs in Northumberland by the Northumbria Community on the 20th September 2025. |
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July 2025 - Manchester Cathedral - "Transformational Leadership for Uncertain Times"
Dr Barber-Rowell gave a lecture to an audience in the Manchester Cathedral Library, exploring theme of Radical Hope and its relationship with Transformational Leadership practice. The lecture can be heard on the Cathedral Spotify here open.spotify.com/episode/4Vs8Y6fiWxLBCD0UOT0d4A?si=9Rt0_1JGRfW-k143mZm14A&nd=1&dlsi=69717f790434465d |
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April 2025 - July 2025 - Diocese of Manchester - Ecology and Creation Lay Leadership Training
As co-convenor of this course, I offered an introduction to and a guide through the Climate Crisis, and supported students to develop theological resources to respond in their context. This course offered an entry level point of access to climate policy, eco theology and terminology, and addressed questions of measurement and legacy from eco projects, as part of the Church's commitment to reach Net Zero by 2030. The course comprised 12 sessions across a 4 months period including the Eco retreat, run by Dr Barber-Rowell |
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April 2025 - Inner Temple, London - "Communicating Radical Hope in an era of poly-crisis"
On the 30th April 2025, Spaces of Hope, along with William Temple Foundation and Virginia Theological Seminary hosted a one day conference at the Inner Temple, London. This conference emerged following the award of a Dean’s Scholarship at VTS for Dr Matthew Barber-Rowell following the Radical Hope gathering at Liverpool Hope University in April 2024. This conference opened up questions and debates relevant to faith based organisations in the public square and their response to poly-crises. For a full write up of the conference download the ebook from our Bookshop |
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