Meet the team

Lead Chaplain:

Rev Ruth Wells (Anglican Church)

Rev’d Ruth Wells works full-time on the team and has a role in coordinating

its work. She is an ordained priest on the Church of England but is around

to support students and staff of all faiths and none.

Ruth is a performance poet and is particularly drawn to using the arts as a way of

finding soul nourishment.  Ruth is really interested in how spirituality is worked out

and connected to everyday life, and in how faith connects heart and head.  She's a yoga addict & loves to embrace embodied spirituality.

She enjoys hearing people's stories - especially over a cup of coffee! She'd love to chat to you and hear your story too - you can contact her via email at rwells@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Catholic Chaplain:

Fr Andrew Wagstaff (Catholic Church)

Father Andrew Wagstaff is our Catholic Priest. He is on campus usually on a Wednesday afternoon at Talbot and on a Tuesday afternoon in the Bournemouth Gateway Building. He also takes part in meetings of the BU Catholic Society: subucatholicsoc@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Father Andrew has been a member of the Congregation of the Oratory since 2012. The Oratory takes its inspiration from St Philip Neri (1515 - 1595), the saint of gentleness and kindness. St John Henry Newman brought the Oratory to England in 1848.

When he is not at the University, Father Andrew can be found at the Oratory Church in Bournemouth where he lives with the other Fathers of the Oratory. On Sunday evenings he hosts a discussion group for Catholics aged 18 - 35, and on Tuesday evenings he hosts a Bible Study, both in the St John Henry Newman Library.

Before joining the Oratory, Father Andrew practised as a barrister, and he is still interested in legal and bioethical issues and philosophy. His Master’s degree is in Biblical interpretation, and he has a research interest in the formation of the New Testament canon.

Associate Chaplain (International Students):

Sue Burt (Friends International)

Sue Burt, an associate chaplain working primarily alongside International students. She works for the Christian organisation Friends International which seeks to provide welcome, hospitality and activities for international students of all faiths and of none.  Sue supports the running of 'Global Cafe' a weekly drop-in specifically offered for international students. Sue writes;

"I love travelling and find it fascinating to learn about different cultures. I have visited more than 40 countries and lived in France for a year. I have also done lots of study over the years so I know just how it feels to have all those assignment deadlines and dissertation proposals!

In Faith & Reflection we want to support international students. if you're feeling lonely, struggling to understand our culture, or you just want to chat about what's happening in your life (the good and the not so good), do come and see us.

I'm at Bournemouth University on Wednesdays. You can always email me: sburt@bournemouth.ac.uk."

Associate Chaplain:

Tim Peters (Navigators)

Tim helps run various groups including the postgraduate Christian fellowship.

Tim can often be found boiling the kettle in the Faith & Reflection kitchen - which is available and accessible for all students and staff.

"Feel free to say hello and my door is open on Wednesdays and Friday afternoons when I'm at BU, or you can contact me at peterst@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Islamic Faith Advisor: Sister Tama
We're so excited to welcome Sister Tama to our team!!!

Sister Tama is amazingly active in the Bournemouth area, supporting those in need. She helps out at our weekly Global cafe event & is in at Faith & Reflection centre every Friday. You can contact Tama via email

Jewish Faith Advisor & Community Contact:

Rabbi Bentzion Alperowitz (Chabad of Bournemouth)

Rabbi Bentzion was born in Bournemouth and received his Yeshiva Education in Manchester, Israel and at the Rabbinical college of America in Morristown, New Jersey. He was Ordained in 2013 at the Central Chabad Yeshiva in New York. Rabbi Bentzion now serves as assistant Rabbi and lecturer of the adult education programme within the Bournemouth Chabad Community. Rabbi Bentzion also runs events and classes for the Jewish students at the Bournemouth universities.

Rabbi Bentzion helps to support the student led Jewish Society (JSoc) and can be contacted via email: rabbibentzion@bournemouthchabad.org or via the Faith and Reflection team.

Humanist Advisor & Community Contact:

David Warden (Dorset Humanists)

David Warden is Chairman of Dorset Humanists, an Honorary Member of Humanists UK, and an assistant editor of Humanistically Speaking magazine. Humanism is a non-religious ethical philosophy which provides the space for people without a religious faith, or who may have left their religion, to think through the big questions of life from a non-faith perspective.

David is a graduate of the University of Kent (theology) and Bournemouth University (Master’s degree in Human Resource Management). His career was in corporate training in financial services and local government. Since retirement, he has gained a Level 4 Diploma in humanistic therapeutic counselling and he leads the pastoral team at Dorset Humanists. Among his many activities locally he is the LGBT+ representative on the Bournemouth and Poole Holocaust Memorial Committee and he regularly visits schools to talk about Humanism. He has lived for most of his life in Bournemouth. He's married and he enjoys reading and playing the piano.

David can be contacted for information, advice, and a listening ear on chairman@dorsethumanists.co.uk

Buddhist Faith Advisor & Community Contact:

Gary Davidson (Soka Gakkai International)

Gary has been a member of the Soka Gakkai International – UK lay Buddhist organisation and a practising Nichiren Buddhist since 1982. Having met the practise whilst in the Royal Navy, he became the first UK military serving Nichiren Buddhist. Having served his time in the Navy, Gary now continues working in the military aviation sector. He also supports all Nichiren Buddhist members and activities locally, and nationally holding a variety of responsibilities within SGI. Gary has also organised lectures alongside the SGI-UK General Director at BU on a variety of philosophical and humanitarian issues.

Gary is also the SGI-UK LGBTQIA+ UK Buddhist Chairperson supporting all LGBTQIA+ Nichiren Buddhists within the UK and the wider LGBTQIA+ European Buddhist networks.

To contact Gary directly please email gjdboots@btinternet.com for local meeting information at BU or rainbow@sgi-uk.org for all LGBTQIA+ related enquiries or via the Faith & Reflection team at BU.