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Prison Programme
In order to meet this need, we are pioneering a new initiative, where people in prison can study Kingdom Theology while they are serving their custodial sentences.
Our Partners
CertHE in Kingdom Theology (University Validated)
In partnership with Birmingham Newman University, we will be offering a validated Level-4 CertHE in Kingdom Theology, which will be piloted inside HMP The Mount from September 2026. This will involve a mix of in-person and online teaching, similar to our current hub model.
Please note that we are still raising funds to make this vision a reality – we would love it if you considered supporting us financially for this pilot.
Foundations in Kingdom Theology (Prison Edition)
In partnership with the Bible Society, we are working towards making our non-validated WTC Certificate: ‘Foundations in Kingdom Theology’ available for people in custody. We are working towards creating pre-recorded lectures, which will be distributed via prison-secure DVDs, along with a participant’s workbook and a facilitator’s guide. This course can either be studied in groups or individually, which we hope will be especially beneficial to those in segregation.
If you are a chaplain and would like access to this resource, please fill in this form to join the waiting list. We are hoping to make this available from the summer of 2026 but this is subject to change.
“We are so excited about launching the ‘WTC's Prison Programme. I know it will be of huge benefit to the men we support and can’t wait to hear of our first prison leavers who pursue ministry. I myself studied with WTC whose teaching is so empowering and engaging and I know it will be just perfect for the guys. We are looking forward to working together to bring sound theological training to prisoners here at The Mount.”
F.A.Q.s:
WTC has had a long-held interest in supporting prisoners and prison leavers. In 2015, Lucy Peppiatt launched the Principal’s Bursary Fund (PBF) to financially assist students who have a recent history of offending or addiction. Since then, the team has been praying for around 10 years about the possibility of delivering one of our courses in a prison.
In 2024, Lucy was approached by a student who works as a chaplain at HMP The Mount. She told Lucy that she had a cohort of people in her congregation who were interested in studying for a theological degree, and were praying that they could find a way to begin their studies while they were still serving their time.
The college spent some time developing this programme, and is planning to start with the first prison cohort in 2027.
There are two components to our Prison Programme:
- We are currently providing non validated in-person ‘taster classes’ for prisoners in HMP The Mount who have an interest in theology. We are currently receiving a lot of positive feedback from these sessions, and look forward to the next stage of development of this programme.
- From September 2027, we will deliver a Level 4 CertHE* inside HMP The Mount. The prison will function similarly to one of our Hubs, and we will conduct mini Residentials at the beginning of each term, so that the men will have a blend of in-person, online and pre-recorded teaching. The men will have to submit essays like any other student from our validated programmes, and we will provide the necessary Study Skills support to enable them to do this well.
*Pending Funding
We take safeguarding very seriously, and will be working closely with the prison staff and our safeguarding consultants, ThirtyOne:Eight in ensuring that we run this as safely as possible.
Click here for our up to date safeguarding code of conduct.
We are currently aiming towards the following dates:
September 2027 – June 2029
Deliver a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Kingdom Theology, validated by Birmingham Newman University inside HMP The Mount.
No. Prison progamme students will not be ordained by any denomination as part of the programme.
Our two greatest needs at this stage are prayer and finances.
If you would like to join our prayer newsletter, you can sign up here to receive monthly updates on what we need prayer for.
We are also looking for regular, monthly financial partners who can help make this vision a reality! Please click here to give towards our programme.
All gifts given towards the WTC Prison Programme will cover the overall set-up costs for our pilot. Click here to read some examples of what your gift could help us achieve.
One of the greatest needs in the prison system, according to Chaplaincy HQ, is for more pastoral care in supporting prison-leavers. If you are interested in helping, then you can ask your church to join the Welcome Directory (UK-wide) and/or connect with Caring For Prison Leavers (London only). Both charities provide training for church groups who would like to welcome and support prison leavers safely. CFPL also has a helpful handbook that highlights various ways you can support a prison leaver.
Aside from that, our friends over at Prison Fellowship have some fantastic opportunities for ordinary Christians to get involved in prison ministry. From letter writing to facilitating Bible studies, they have many projects on the go that you can get involved with.
If you are specifically interested in evangelism in prisons, then Prison Alpha and Kairos UK are always looking for volunteers. Contact them directly about how you can get involved.
While we do not offer any specific courses that train people for chaplaincy, we do have a growing number of students and alumni who have used their WTC qualification in Kingdom Theology as part of their pathway to becoming a prison chaplain.
If you are part of the Church of England or the Roman Catholic church, you will need to complete chaplaincy training through your denomination.
If you are part of an independent church, you may be able to become a chaplain if your denomination is a member of the Free Churches Group (please check their directory here), and you hold a Theological qualification at Level 5 or higher.
Our BA or Graduate Diploma in Kingdom Theology might be the right course for you if you wish to take this route.
We are happy to chat about delivering our non-validated Level-3 course in your prison from the Autumn of 2025. Please contact us at pdpp@wtctheology.org.uk to learn more about what this entails.
Listen to us on TheoDisc Podcast
Programme Director:
Sarah Coppin
My name is Sarah Coppin, and I am a ‘Third Culture Kid’, having lived in South Africa, Australia, India and the UK. After an initial career in fine dining restaurant and events management, God led me to begin my theological journey studying Theology, Religion and the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge as a mature student.
I began volunteering in prison ministry in 2018, and met some extraordinary people in the prison estate. God is doing great things in prisons, and I am excited about this new role, as I lead our new Prisons Programme here at WTC. I also hold a PGCert in Theology for Ministry and Mission at St Mellitus College, and am working towards my MA in Kingdom Theology at WTC. I worship at my local Vineyard church and enjoy growing food on my allotment.