Francis Bridger

The Rev Dr Francis Bridger is a retired Anglican priest and practical theologian. Prior to retirement, his most recent post held was as Dean of Brechin Diocese in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Previously he had served as Professor of Anglican Communion Studies and Executive Director of the Center for Anglican Communion Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, preceded by the principalship of Trinity Theological College, Bristol..

Bridger is the author of numerous publications in the fields of practical theology and pastoral care and a contributor to others, especially in the area of theological ethics. His books include, among others, Children Finding Faith (winner of the Prix du Livre Francophone); Counselling in Context: Developing a Theological Framework (with David Atkinson); A Charmed Life: the Spirituality of Potterworld, (nominated for a Scholarship Award by the Mythopoeic Society);Twenty Three Days: A Story of Love, Death and God; and Conversations at the Edges of Things (with Jim Butler). He is currently working on a book addressing the philosophical, theological and ethics challenges thrown up by AI.

As a priest and theological teacher, Bridger has focussed his writing on making theological ideas accessible to the wider Church in ways that are relevant to its mission and everyday life. Enabling Christians to engage with contemporary culture has been a recurrent theme in his work.

Bridger is a graduate of Oxford and Bristol Universities and has served in parishes in England, Scotland and the USA and as a theological teacher in the UK, USA and Australia. He is married to an Anglican woman priest and has three adult adopted children.