The Revd Canon Professor Leslie J Francis PhD DLitt ScD DD FBPsS PGCE
Professor of Religions and Education
Institute of Education
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL
Telephone: 00 44 (0) 24 765 22539
E-mail:leslie.francis@warwick.ac.uk
Background
Leslie J Francis is Professor of Religions and Education within the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, and Canon Theologian of Bangor Cathedral, Wales. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1976. His published works have been recognised by three higher doctorates: ScD from Cambridge in 1997, DD from Oxford in 2001 and DLitt from University of Wales, Bangor in 2007.
His research in religious education has been shaped by creative links with practical and empirical theology and with the individual differences approach to psychology.
ResearchLeslie J Francis’ current research initiatives include:
Leslie J Francis currently serves as:
He also serves on the editorial boards of the following journals:
Leslie J Francis currently serves as co-editor for three series of books:
Leslie J Francis currently serves as:
He is also a member of:
Leslie J Francis speaks regularly at international conferences. Recent presentations include:
British Sociological Association Sociology of Religion Study Group, Manchester, England, 3-5 April 2006 (Introducing the New Indices of Religious Orientation (NIRO): conceptualisation and measurement).
International Society of Empirical Research in Theology, Bangor, Wales, 20-22 April 2006 (Comparative empirical research in religion: conceptual and operational challenges within empirical theology).
Implicit Religion Annual Denton Conference, Denton Hall, England, 5-7 May 2006 (The unconventional beliefs of conventional churchgoers: the matter of luck).
British Psychological Society Northern Ireland Branch, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12-14 May 2006 (Sixth-form religion in Northern Ireland (1968-1998): replication and extension).
Institute for Socio-Biblical Studies Conference, University of Sheffield, England, 11-12 July 2006 (The SIFT method: an applied approach to biblical hermeneutics and liturgical preaching).
International Seminar on Religious Education and Values, Driebergen, Netherlands, 30 July - 4 August 2006 (Invited presentation: Reforming tradition, a liberally conservative approach: a response to Gabriel Moran).
The 114th Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisianna, 10-13 August 2006 (invited address: Faith and Psychology: the role of empirical theology and psychological research in ministry development).
The seventh Ecumenical Conference on Christian Parapsychology, University of Exeter, England, 10-12 September 2006 (Drawing back the veil: paranormal belief and the teenage world view).
The European Conference on Christian Education, Vienna, Austria, 29 January - 3 February 2007 (invited series of three key note addresses: The theory and practice of Christian education).
Implicit Religion Annual Denton Conference, Denton Hall, England, 11-13 May 2007 (Personality, religion and paranormal belief: a study among teenagers).
Institute for Socio-Biblical Studies Conference, University of Sheffield, England, 17-18 July 2007 (Practice interpretation and psychological type: applying the SIFT method of biblical hermeneutics).
International Society for the Sociology of Religion, Leipzig, Germany, 23-27 July 2007 (Psychological type and predisposition for professional burnout among church leaders in Australia, England and New Zealand).
The 115th Convention of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California, United States of America, 17-20 August 2007 (The relationship of intrinsic, extrinsic and quest orientations to Jungian psychological type among Christians).
Books
Leslie J Francis has authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited over fifty books. Recent titles include:
Books authored
Francis, L.J. (2005), Faith and Psychology: personality, religion and the individual, London, Darton, Longman and Todd, pp xiv + 154 (ISBN 0-232-52544-7)
Francis, L.J., Robbins, M. and Astley, J. (2005), Fragmented Faith: exposing the fault-lines in the Church of England, Carlisle, Paternoster Press, pp x + 182 (ISBN 1-84227-382-5)
Francis, L.J. and Robbins, M. (2005), Urban Hope and Spiritual Health: the adolescent voice, Peterborough, Epworth, pp viii + 280 (ISBN 0-7162-0609-9)
Haley, J.M. and Francis, L.J. (2006), British Methodism: what circuit ministers really think, Peterborough, Epworth, pp x + 326 (ISBN 0-7162-0614-5)
Books edited
Astley, J., Francis, L.J., Sullivan, J. and Walker, A. (eds) (2004), The Idea of a Christian University: essays on theology and higher education, Carlisle, Paternoster, pp xii + 316 (ISBN 1-84227-260-0)
Day, D., Astley, J. and Francis, L.J. (eds) (2005), Making Connections: a reader on preaching, Aldershot, Ashgate, pp x + 291 (ISBN 0-7546-5009-X and ISBN 0-7546-5003-0)
Francis, L.J., Robbins, M. and Astley, J. (eds) (2005), Religion, Education and Adolescence: international empirical perspectives, Cardiff, University of Wales, Press, pp xii + 258 (ISBN 0-7083-1957-2)
Astley, J., Francis, L.J. and Robbins, M. (eds) (2007), Peace or Violence: the ends of religion and education, Cardiff, University of Wales Press, ix + 222 (ISBN 0-7083-2078-5)
Chapters
Leslie J Francis has authored or co-authored over seventy chapters in edited collections. Recent titles include:
Francis, L.J. (2004), Expectations of the Christian campus: ordinary theology, empirical theology and student voices, in J. Astley, L.J. Francis, J. Sullivan and A. Walker (eds) The Idea of a Christian University: essays on theology and higher education, Carlisle, Paternoster, pp 147-165 (ISBN 1-84227-260-0)
Francis, L.J. (2004), Empirical theology and hermeneutical religious education: a case study concerning adolescent attitudes toward abortion, in H. Lombaerts and D. Pollefeyt (eds) Hermeneutics and Religious Education, Leuven, Peeters, pp 355-373 (ISBN 90-429-1558-7)
Francis, L.J. (2005), Prayer, personality and purpose in life among churchgoing and non-churchgoing adolescents, in L.J. Francis, M. Robbins and J. Astley (eds) Religion, Education and Adolescence: international empirical perspectives, Cardiff, University of Wales, Press, pp 15-38 (ISBN 0-7083-1957-2)
Francis, L.J. (2007), God images and empathy: a study among secondary school pupils in England, in P. Heggy (ed.), What do we Imagine God to be? The function of ‘God images’ in our lives, Lampeter, Edwin Mellen Press, pp 67-88 (ISBN 0-7734-5488-8).
Articles
Leslie J Francis has authored or co-authored over five hundred articles in peer review journals. Recent titles include:
Francis, L.J., Robbins, M., Barnes, L.P. and Lewis, C.A. (2006), Sixth-form religion in Northern Ireland: the Protestant profile 1968-1998, British Journal of Religious Education, 28, 3-18.
Francis, L.J. (2006), The God experience (who has it and why?): perspectives from empirical theology, Modern Believing, 47, 4-21.
Kay, W.K. and Francis, L.J. (2006), Suicidal ideation among young people in the UK: churchgoing as an inhibitory influence? Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 9, 127-140.
Francis, L.J. (2006), Psychological types of female trainee primary school teachers in Wales: teaching in a changing educational climate, Journal of Psychological Type, 66, 7-13.
Loman, S.E. and Francis, L.J. (2006), The Loman Index of Biblical Interpretation: distinguishing between literal, symbolic and rejecting modes among 11- to 14-year-olds, British Journal of Religious Education, 28, 131-140.
Francis, L.J. and Craig, C.L. (2006), Tweenagers in the Church: an empirical perspective on attitude development, Journal of Beliefs and Values, 27, 95-109.
Francis, L.J., Robbins, M., Barnes, L.P. and Lewis, C.A. (2006), Religiously affiliated schools in Northern-Ireland: the persistence of denominational differences in pupils’ religious and moral values, Journal of Empirical Theology, 19, 182-202.
Francis, L.J. and Robbins, M. (2006), Prayer, purpose in life, personality and social attitudes among non-churchgoing 13- to 15-year-olds in England and Wales, Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 17, 123-155.
Francis, L.J., ap Siôn, T., Lewis, C.A., Robbins, M. and Barnes, L.P. (2006), Attitude toward Christianity and religious experience: replication among 16- to 18-year-old adolescents in Northern Ireland, Research in Education, 76, 56-61.
Francis, L.J., Robbins, M. and Williams, E. (2006), Believing and implicit religion beyond the churches: religion, superstition, luck and fear among 13- to 15-year-old girls in Wales, Implicit Religion, 9, 74-89.
Hills, P.R., Francis, L.J. and Jennings, P. (2006), Religious behaviour, personality and dimensions of self-esteem among 13- to 15-year-old adolescents, Journal of Research on Christian Education, 15, 61-76.
Francis, L.J., Turton, D.W. and Louden, S.H. (2007), Dogs, cats and Catholic parochial clergy in England and Wales: exploring the relationship between companion animals and work-related psychological health, Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 47-60.
Francis, L.J. and Katz, Y.J. (2007), Measuring attitude toward Judaism: the internal consistency reliability of the Katz-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Judaism, Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 10, 309-324.
Francis, L.J. and Williams, E. (2007), Drawing back the veil: paranormal belief among adolescents, Christian Parapsychologist, 17, 170-185.
Francis, L.J., Nash, P., Nash, S. and Craig, C.L. (2007), Psychology and youth ministry: psychological type preferences of Christian youth workers in the United Kingdom, 5(2), 73-90.
ap Siôn, T., Francis, L.J. and Baker, S. (2007), Experiencing education in the new Christian schools in the United Kingdom: listening to the male graduates, Journal of Beliefs and Values, 28, 1-15.
Francis, L.J. and Burton, L. (2007), The relationship between psychological health and attitude toward Christianity among 11- to 15-year-old pupils in England, Journal of Research on Christian Education, 16, 83-102.
Books for children
Leslie J Francis is co-author of the popular Teddy Horsley series of religious education books for 3-7 year olds.
He is also co-author of a series of books for key stage one pupils on Christian special places, and co-author of a series of books for key stage two pupils on world faiths.
MusicLeslie J Francis enjoys the music of J.S. Bach and has re-built an 1851 Walker organ in his home.
Further informationA full list of publications is available here
Abstracts for publications since 1996 are available within ten themed areas: