The University Chaplain for Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge is the Reverend Nigel Cooper MA CEnv FIBiol FLS

Nigel is a priest in the Church of England, but is responsible for the chaplaincy service to people of all faiths and none.

Nigel was born in Sussex and first came to Cambridge to the other university in the city to read Natural Sciences, concentrating on ecology. He taught in Romford for a few years, before going to Oxford to train for the ministry. He served his title curacy in Chelmsford and was rector of Rivenhall and Silver End in Essex for seventeen years before coming to Anglia Ruskin University in January 2005.

Nigel has an interest in applying the Christian faith to the modern world. He believes in making worship concrete and physical as much as possible, taking the lead from the earthy sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. He is fascinated by the process of reading the bible and how different interpretive processes lead to different understandings. He also believes in the application of faith to the big issues of our day, particularly those of justice, peace and creation. So he supports agencies that work for development and the environment. Our inner lives are the base for our activism and Nigel has trained in counselling, but these days he concentrates more on the spiritual aspects of our lives as, form experience, he has found healing here, together with laughter and exercise, can lead to the healing of much other pain in people’s lives. He has led a number of nature and spirit retreats, helping people find God through their relationship with nature.

Nigel has maintained his interest in ecology and a concern for the environment, writing on subjects such as churchyard conservation and the philosophy behind natural history. Latterly this interest has extended to gardens and the wider landscape.

Nigel is married to Bridget and they have an adult son. They share a love of Scottish Dancing, and sometimes Nigel may be spotted in a kilt!