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Helen King

@helenking.bsky.social
14K followers 762 following 891 posts

Sort of retired (not), Professor Emerita, The Open University. Classics, history of medicine/the body/gynaecology. Writer, blogger, C of E lay preacher, chair of Together on General Synod (formerly Gender & Sexuality Group). She/her. Likes flowers.

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Reposted by Helen King
Wolfson History Prize @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
We're thrilled to announce the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist, showcasing six exceptional books that explore how societies navigate periods of seismic change. Congratulations to all the authors! 👏📚 bit.ly/4yCLe5T
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Wolfson History Prize @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Where does a lifelong love of history begin? #WolfsonHistoryPrize judges Sudhir Hazareesingh and @helenking.bsky.social share the people and inspirations that sparked their fascination with the past. 📜
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Read more history! It helps us to think better!
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
#bloomscrolling Colchicum aka autumn crocus
Pinky-mauve colchicum in full flower, Oxfordshire
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Always happy when people get into the history of medicine and the body!
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Wolfson History Prize @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Six books. One shortlist. A lot of history. On 17 September, we reveal the six books shortlisted for the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize. The countdown starts now. ⏰
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Wolfson History Prize @wolfsonhistory.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
What can the history of the body tell us about the world we live in? 📑 #WolfsonHistoryPrize judge @helenking.bsky.social is a historian of the body. Her most recent work explores the ways medicine, religion and society have shaped ideas about women's bodies, from ancient Greece to the modern day.
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Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Management: abduction! #HigherEd #satire
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
What does the CofE mean by ‘intimacy’? First of a two-parter shared-conversations.com/2026/09/01/i...
shared-conversations.com
Intimate Matters Part 1: Beyond the indeterminate physical
What are we talking about in the C of E when we use the terminology of ‘intimacy’?
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Coming very soon #CofE peeps… www.gladstoneslibrary.org/event/poetry...
gladstoneslibrary.org
Course: Times and Seasons: Poetry for the Church’s Year - Gladstone's Library
This three-day course will consider the church’s year as explored and expressed in the rich tradition of devotional poetry in English.
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Savi Hensman on the CofE and ‘National Unity’ viamedia.news/2026/08/18/f...
viamedia.news
Far-right Threat: Why the Bishops’ Take on “National Unity” is not enough – Part 1 - ViaMedia
by Savitri (Savi) Hensman. A British Sri Lankan lesbian and Church of England member, she has been a writer and activist for justice and inclusion in churches and society, at times holding leadership ...
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Aparna Nair @disabilitystor1.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
anyway, anyone remember Jan Joosten? An Oxford theology professor, he downloaded over 28,000 images of CSA materials. I want to understand where the outrage over "standards" and "professional expectations," was back then. Social media was around then. www.theguardian.com/world/2020/j...
theguardian.com
Oxford professor sentenced to jail in France over child abuse images
Former pastor Jan Joosten receives year’s sentence for downloading 28,000 images and videos
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Today nominations opened for the next round of voting for General Synod. Have you seen this rather lovely video Together For The Church of England made? youtu.be/xcSHRh6l2EE
youtu.be
Together for the Church of England
YouTube video by Together for the Church of England
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
I suspect there may be more than 237 people in the #CofE who support full inclusion of those of different race, sexuality, gender and neurodiversity and who’d like to help fund the election campaign for General Synod? justgiving.com/campaign/inc...
justgiving.com
The Inclusive Synod Election Campaign
We're fundraising with Inclusive Church to support the election of inclusive people to the General Synod of the Church of England in the 2026 elections. This will help the Church to be more diverse a...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Another one for dahlia fans #bloomscrolling
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
It’s another day to retreat into #bloomscrolling. A very fine dahlia.
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A Rachel for all seasons (she/her) @nerak3l.eurosky.social · 04/08/2026
www.justgiving.com/campaign/inc...
justgiving.com
The Inclusive Synod Election Campaign
We're fundraising with Inclusive Church to support the election of inclusive people to the General Synod of the Church of England in the 2026 elections. This will help the Church to be more diverse a...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
#CofEpeeps in two weeks’ time the nominations for election to General Synod open. Here’s Chantal of Inclusive Church to tell you more: www.facebook.com/share/r/1B9S...
facebook.com
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
‘Church August’ starts tomorrow. I’m still not sure why so much grinds to a halt, despite having written this in 2024 shared-conversations.com/2024/08/29/f...
shared-conversations.com
Farewell August: time for the Church of England to wake up?
I’ve never really understood ‘Church August’. ‘Church January’? ‘Church post-Easter’? Sure: the rhythm of the Christian calendar means that there are point…
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Church of England safeguarding - there’s an excellent new review out which is a must-read: see my viamedia.news/2026/07/30/s...
viamedia.news
Safeguarding: Still Not Trauma-Informed - ViaMedia
What the survivor most wanted from all of this was to be believed and heard, to be given an apology, “and to be able to engage in some form of restorative justice. The process denied her all of these....
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jordan @jordantyranny.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
bat doodles in a 13th century manuscript
cute old bat pics
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Journal of Art in Society @artinsociety.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
JUST PUBLISHED! Millais’ painting Christ in the House of his Parents provoked howls of ridicule from critics, including an enraged Charles Dickens. Our latest article analyses what their hostility tells us about Victorian attitudes to religion and art www.artinsociety.com/millais-char...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Robert Thompson writes on the interesting case of the disappearing bishops viamedia.news/2026/07/25/w...
viamedia.news
Where’s My Bishop? - ViaMedia
What understanding of episcopal ministry leads so many bishops to conclude that, on one of the defining pastoral and theological questions of our generation, leaving no recorded public position is the...
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Dr Catherine Ebenezer (she/her) @ebenezer1954.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Pope Leo dealt robustly with SSPX following its recent unauthorised consecration of bishops: prompt excommunication. Why is suitable disciplinary action not being taken against CEEC and others responsible for irregular ('alternative') ordinations within the Church of England? #CofEPeeps
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
After the final General Synod of this 5-year period : viamedia.news/2026/07/21/t...
viamedia.news
The End of the Synod: Grieving for Love - ViaMedia
by Charlie Bell, Fellow in Public Theology and Medicine at Girton College, Cambridge, Associate Vicar of St John the Divine, Kennington, in the Diocese of Southwark I will admit that the defeat at thi...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Just released this statement on the failure of my Synod motion in the House of Bishops togethercofe.org.uk/a-statement-...
togethercofe.org.uk
A Statement Following Helen King’s PMM at Synod July 2026 – Together for the Church of England
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
@morwennaexe.bsky.social congratulations Morwenna! So well deserved
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Morwenna Ludlow @morwennaexe.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
#DefendExeterUni
Exeter Academics Elected to the British Academy Fellowship, 2026. We are all truly honoured by our election to the Fellowship of the British Academy. The recognition of our work from our peers means an enormous amount to us. It also reflects the wonderful, supportive and collegial environment of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Exeter where we work.
However, it's hard to celebrate when our University's management has decided to launch a devastating attack on humanities and social sciences at Exeter, putting nearly all the academics in the Faculty (including us) "at risk" of compulsory redundancy.
These drastic, rushed and myopic cuts undermine the very environment in which our work was able to flourish. The targeted attack on Humanities and Social Sciences represents a catastrophic failure to understand the critical role of humanities and social sciences in public life, and why understanding human society and its history is more important today than it has ever been. 
Rob Gleave, Professor of Arabic Studies (Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies); Mark Jackson, Professor of the History of Medicine (Archaeology and History); Morwenna Ludlow, Professor of Christian History and Theology (Classics, Ancient History, Religion, and Theology)
Jane Whittle, Professor of Economic and Social History (Archaeology and History)
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Another Church of England day, another failure to welcome and value LGBTQIA+ people in relationships shared-conversations.com/2026/07/13/s...
shared-conversations.com
Synod At Home (3) – Long Monday
Why can’t the bishops agree to welcome people regardless of sexual orientation?
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Westcott House Cambridge @westcotthousecam.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
2/2 Will is our first student to complete the ARU PhD pathway offered through Westcott House in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and the Cambridge Theological Federation. More info about Will's thesis & research can be viewed here: buff.ly/CodezXp
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Some of the clematis have decided to have a second burst of flowers
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
This was a really fine and inspiring book so I recommend entering!
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Diocese of Gloucester @glosdioc.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
"I encourage all those that have a passion for peace and justice to join me in the Time To Act campaign. The time to act is now." ~ Bishop Rachel joins the 'Time to Act' campaign👉 gloucester.anglican.org/2026/bishop-... #gaza #israelpalestine
gloucester.anglican.org
Bishop Rachel joins ‘Time to Act’ campaign – Diocese of Gloucester
We are the Church of England community in and around Gloucestershire, committed to sharing the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that people may know life in all its fullness
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Sam Wilson @samwilson.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
If you had missed it, we had even more “ordinations” this month. Deacons whose names are not public, whose churches are not public, who therefore minister without proper scrutiny. And, for that matter, without proper support.
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Do we “risk losing confidence in the God whose creative love is capable of holding together difference itself”? viamedia.news/2026/06/20/a...
viamedia.news
Alternative Ordinations and the Fracturing of the Church - ViaMedia
by the Revd Robert Thompson, Vicar St Mary’s, Kilburn & St James’, West Hampstead; host of Open Table, London; member of General Synod I was brought up in rural north of Ireland, in the Church of Irel...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Show support for our trans sisters notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...
notinourname.org.uk
Women in support of the trans+ community - Not in our name
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Cllr Dr Alex Powell @apowelllaw.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
During Pride month, one of Oxford's queer venues is boarding up windows and other businesses are closing because the Oxford union has chosen to platform a fascist and they need to keep staff sage. Will the Oxford union compensate businesses for lost profits? www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/2619765...
oxfordmail.co.uk
Oxford pubs to close early with some 'bracing for unrest'
Pubs and businesses in Oxford city centre are closing today with some considering boarding up ahead of Tommy Robinson's visit this evening.
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Tim Schmalz @timschmalz.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Rosamond McKitterick (1949-2026) A formidable scholar, an inspiring teacher, a generous spirit and a supportive colleague - truly, we have lost one of the great ones. @sidneysussex.bsky.social @camhistory.bsky.social @camedieval.bsky.social
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Rev. Dr. Liz Gloyn @lizgloyn.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
You lovely people have got me up to 190 responses, so I'm going to keep going to 200! If you're an academic in UK HE who's had pastoral responsibility for students in the last 5 years under any title, please take 10 mins to share your thoughts about that work. Please do share to widen the pool.
surveymonkey.com
The Role Of Interpersonal Relationships And Care In Personal Tutoring Within UK HEIS
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
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SCM Press @scmpress.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
In his new book, Adrian Thatcher argues that we should start thinking of abusive theology as a category of theology and suggests the shape of a post-abusive alternative. 'Unflinching' yet 'hopeful': @helenking.bsky.social Order here for £24 off this month: scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033...
'What if the reason for the decline of Christianity is that people no longer find our doctrines credible, recognizing them instead as abusive and dangerous? And how can we find better ways of reading the Bible? Unflinching in its honesty about our troubled heritage on sexual and other forms of abuse, this is a hopeful book which suggests how we can find better ways to read the Bible.' Helen King, Professor Emerita of Classical Studies at the Open University and General Synod Member.
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
All this talk of church growth - how does that plays out in a smaller church? viamedia.news/2026/05/29/b...
viamedia.news
Bruised Reeds and Mustard Seeds - ViaMedia
by the Revd Jody Stowell, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Harrow Weald and member of General Synod The book above has come out of a number of years of struggle and frustration as a parish priest o...
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
#bloomscrolling I seem to have a pale pink peony I didn’t know was there!
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Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera @pantibliss.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Trans people have been around your whole life. You’ve been sharing bathrooms with them your whole life. They’ve been in your communities your whole life. They’ve even been playing sport your whole life. And you didn’t care *at all* till a few years ago when every right wing org decided you should
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Kieran Connell @kieranconnell.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
I have a piece in today’s Irish Examiner about a new AHRC project I’m proud to be involved in with @jcrangle.bsky.social & @tortietabby.bsky.social on a hundred years of diversity in Ireland www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
irishexaminer.com
Kieran Connell: Ireland has a long multicultural history. It's time to tell that story
Refugees from Hungary and Belgium; migrant workers from Poland and Germany; doctors from Africa and Asia — over the last century, Ireland was far more diverse than many of us seem to realise
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
#bloomscrolling the flower of a Tulip Tree
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Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
“Of course he abused pupils”: former Dulwich College teacher Chloë Deakin speaks out about Nigel Farage’s racist behaviour.
theguardian.com
‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims
Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
I’ve been working my way through all the Louise Penny novels for a couple of months now. Unlike any other detective series in their steady character development and their strong morality. What do I read when I’ve finished vol.20??
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
#CofEpeeps what’s it like being the youngest member of General Synod? Emily Hill writes … open.substack.com/pub/together...
open.substack.com
A place for anger?
Emily Hill, the youngest member of the current General Synod quinquennium, writes about how being part of decision-making has impacted her - and the Church.
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
I’m not sure why this is but some sort of lace cap hydrangea … #bloomscrolling
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Helen King @helenking.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
#bloomscrolling this wonderfully frilly iris encountered today
Large white iris flower with purple edging
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