James Welford Woodward (born 23rd February 1961) is a British Anglican priest. He is presently Principal of Sarum College, Salisbury and a Visiting Professor of Theology at Winchester University.
Early Life Woodward was born on 23rd February 1961 and is the eldest son of Colin and Patricia Woodward. He was educated at Spennymoor Grammar School in County Durham. He studied theology at Kings College London and graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD)and Associateship of Kings College (AKC) in 1982. He trained for ministry at Westcott House Cambridge from 1983 to 1985. He was ordained deacon in Durham Cathedral in June 1985.
Church Ministry From 1985 to 1987 Woodward was Assistant Curate of Consett Parish Church. He was involved in community work including Chairing the Consett Churches Detached Youth Work Project. From 1987 to 1990 he was the first Domestic Chaplain to Richard Harries,Lord Bishop of Oxford (1987-2006) In 1990 he was lead Chaplain of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, now University Hospitals Trust, Birmingham. From 1996 to 1998 he combined responsibility as priest in Charge of Middleton and Wishaw in the Diocese of Brimingham with completing his Doctoral Studies with the Open University. From 1998 to 2009 he was Master of the Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson before being appointed to a Canonry of Windsor from 2009 to 2015.
Sarum College Woodward has led Sarum College since 2015. He was appointed a Visiting Professor at Winchester University and from 2017 to 2020 was the chair of Salisbury Cathedral School