Revd Canon Professor Leslie J Francis

Leslie Francis holds the part-time post of Professor of Religions, Psychology and Education. He works with doctoral students in fields that connect religious studies, theology, psychology, and education. Before joining Bishop Grosseteste University he held chairs in Pastoral Theology at Lampeter, Practical Theology at Bangor, Religions and Education at Warwick, and Religions and Psychology at Warwick. Currently he holds visiting positions in universities in Pretoria and Newfoundland and serves as Canon Theologian at Liverpool Cathedral.


Related Courses

Books authored 2020:

Ross, C. F. J., & Francis, L. J. (2020). Personality, religion, and leadership: The spiritual dimensions of psychological type theory. New York: Lexington Books. ISBN 978 1 7936 0582 5.

Books edited 2020:

Neal, T., & Francis, L. J. (2020). A new lease of life? Anglican clergy reflect on retirement. Durham: Sacristy Press. ISBN 978 1 7895 9085 2.

Chapters in books 2020:

Fawcett, B. G., Freeze, T., Francis, L. J., & Embrée, R. (2020). The changing religious profile of ‘committed’ Baptist youth in Atlantic Canada 2002-2017: Implications for Christian Higher Education in Canada. In S. E. Porter & B. G. Fawcett (Eds.), Christian higher education in Canada: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 40-60). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.

Francis, L. J. (2020). The empirical science of religious education in England and Wales: Drawing on education studies and practical theology. In T. Schlag & B. Schröder (Eds.), Praktische theologie und religionspädagogik: Systematische, empirische und thematische verhältnisbestimmungen (pp. 217-230). Leipzig: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Sahin, A. (2020). Religion and socio-economic human rights: An empirical enquiry among adolescents in England and Wales. In H.-G. Ziebertz (Ed.), International empirical studies on religion and socio-economic human rights (pp. 169-191). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. ISBN 978 3 0303 0933 6.

Journal articles 2020:

Breskaya, O., Francis, L. J., & Giordan, G. (2020). Perceptions of the functions of religion and attitude toward religious freedom: Introducing the New Indices of the Functions of Religion (NIFoR). Religions, 11(507), 1-16. ISSN 2077 1444.

Francis, L. J. (2020). Difficult Texts: Ecclesiastes 12: 12 compared with John 21: 25: What does a Canon Theologian do? Theology, 123, 129-131. ISSN 0040 5714.

Francis, L. J. (2020). Parental and peer influence on church attendance among adolescent Anglicans in England and Wales. Journal of Anglican Studies, 18, 61-73. ISSN 1740 1553

Francis, L. J. (2020). Churchgoing and Christian ethics. An empirical study among 13- to 15-year-old students in England and Wales. Journal of Empirical Theology, 33, 197-219. ISSN 0922 2936.

Francis, L. J. (2020). The relationship between psychological health and attitude toward theistic faith: An empirical enquiry among 13- to 15-year-old students. Greek Journal of Religious Education, 3, 17-33. ISSN 2623 4386.

Francis, L. J., Athwal, S., & McKenna, U. (2020). Assessing attitude toward Sikhism: The psychometric properties of the Athwal-Francis Scale among Sikh adolescents. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 23, 234-244. ISSN 1367 4676.

Francis, L. J., Breskaya, O., Giordan, G., & McKenna, U. (2020). Attitudes toward civil human rights among Italian students of sociology: The effects of religion and theology. Religions, 11(643), 1-20. ISSN 2077 1444.

Francis, L. J., Byrne, G., Lewis, C. A., & Sweetman, B. (2020). Religious affect and personal happiness: Are there significant differences between Catholic adolescents in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland? Journal of Religious Education, 68, 13-27. ISSN 1442 6200.

Francis, L. J., & Crea, G. (2020). The psychometric properties of the Italian translation of the Astley-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Theistic Faith: A study across the age range of 13- to 80-years. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 23, 302-308. ISSN 1367 4676.

Francis, L. J., & Jones, S. H. (2020). Cathedrals as agents of psychological health and wellbeing within secular societies: Assessing the impact of the Holly Bough service in Liverpool Cathedral. HTS Theological Studies, 76(3), article 6250, 1-8. ISSN 0259 9422.

Francis, L. J., Jones, S. H., & McKenna, U. (2020). The Holly Bough service at Liverpool Cathedral and psychological type theory: Fresh expressions or inherited church? HTS Theological Studies, 76(3), article 6275, 1-11. ISSN 0259 9422.

Francis, L. J., Jones, S. H., McKenna, U., Pike, N., & Williams, E. (2020). The science of cathedral studies: Exploring demographic profile, motivational intentions, and perceived impact among those attending the Holly Bough service in Liverpool Cathedral. Religions, 11(478), 1-16. ISSN 2077 1444.

Francis, L. J., Jones, S. H., & Ross, C. F. (2020). Is God really good to the upright? Theological educators exploring Psalm 73 through the Jungian lenses of sensing, intuition, feeling and thinking. HTS Theological Studies, 76(1), article 6171, 1-11. ISSN 0259 9422.

Francis, L. J., Lankshear, D. W., & Eccles, E. L. (2020). Assessing student attitude toward Christianity in Church in Wales primary schools: Does aided status make a difference? British Journal of Religious Education, 42, 56-64. ISSN 0141 6200.

Francis, L. J., Lankshear, D. W., Eccles, E. L., & McKenna, U. (2020). Sustaining churchgoing young Anglicans in England and Wales: Assessing influence of the home. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 41, 34-50. ISSN 1361 7672.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Arweck, E. (2020). Countering anti-Muslim attitudes among Christian and religiously unaffiliated 13- to 15-year-old students in England and Wales: Testing the contact hypothesis. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 41, 342-357. ISSN 1361 7672.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Lewis, C. A. (2020). Shifts in denominational differences in student attitude toward Christianity in Northern Ireland 1979-2011. Journal of Religious Education, 68, 409-415. ISSN 1442 6200.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Powell, R. (2020). Ecclesia domestica and the role of the home in sustaining young churchgoing Catholics: An empirical enquiry among 8- to 14-year-olds in Australia. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 31, 338-359. ISSN 1046 8064.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Powell, R. (2020). The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity (modified short-form) among 8- to 14-year-old churchgoers in Australia. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 31, 300-318. ISSN 1046 8064.

Francis, L. J., McKenna, U., & Sahin, A. (2020). Exploring Psalm 73: 1-10 through sensing and intuition: Applying the SIFT approach to biblical hermeneutics among Muslim educators. HTS Theological Studies, 76(3), article 6093, 1-7. ISSN 0259 9422.

Francis, L. J., Powell, R., & McKenna, U. (2020). Religion and personal happiness among young churchgoers in Australia: The importance of the affective dimension. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 31, 319-337. ISSN 1046 8064.

Francis, L. J., Powell, R., & Village, A. (2020). Mystical experience and emotional wellbeing: A study among Australian church leaders. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 41, 509-513. ISSN 1351 7672.

Francis, L. J., & Village, A. (2020). Christian ethos secondary schools, parental church attendance and student attitude toward Christianity. Exploring connections in England and Wales. British Journal of Religious Education, 42, 298-312. ISSN 0141 6200.

Francis, L. J., Village, A., & Lawson, A. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on fragile churches: Is the rural situation really different? Rural Theology, 18, 79-86. ISSN 1470 4994.

Francis, L. J., Village, A., & Voas, D. (2020). The changing psychological type profile and psychological temperament of Church of England clergy. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 31, 93-110. ISSN 1046 8064.

Village, A., & Francis, L. J. (2020). Faith in lockdown: Experience of rural Church of England clergy and laity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Rural Theology, 18, 79-86. ISSN 1470 4994.