Jonathan Tallon
I come from a Welsh family but was brought up in the south east of England. I made a commitment to God at 14. I studied science at Cambridge University, where I was the Christian Union representative for my college. I then worked for a multi-national company for a few years, becoming a marketing manager. I was also a volunteer youth worker at an inner-city Manchester church.
Experiencing a call to the ministry, I trained at St. John’s Nottingham, gaining a 1st in Bachelor in Theology, before returning to Manchester to be a curate in Bury, and then vicar in Cadishead for over eight years. During this period, I also completed an MPhil in Theology from Nottingham University (looking at the Christology of John Chrysostom), and taught people training to be ministers and preachers in the Church of England.
In 2009, I joined Northern Baptist College as the Biblical Studies tutor, teaching courses up to postgraduate level, in particular on the New Testament. My own research interests include the interpretation of Paul in the early Church; my doctorate from the University of Manchester was on the concept of faith in the preaching of John Chrysostom. I am also research programme director for Luther King House, and currently supervising a PhD on the experience of people who identify as LGBTI in English churches over the last 30 years.
I am a mentor for curates in the Manchester diocese. My passion is to help people learn more about God and the Bible.
I am married and have three children. I enjoy films, eating out, and finding reasons not to exercise. I watch programmes like Britain’s Got Talent. I blame my children for this. Living in Manchester, people frequently ask whether I support City or United. I support Chelsea.