Past Winners
Discover previous winners of the Michael Ramsey Prize, the best contemporary theological writing since 2005. Past winners include Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, Mark Oakley, John Swinton, Luke Bretherton, David Bentley Hart, Richard Bauckham, Timothy Radcliffe and N T Wright.
In 2023 the Michael Ramsey Prize was awarded to Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt for The Love that is God: An Invitation to the Christian Faith (William B. Eerdmans Publishing).
The prize was awarded at Lambeth Palace Library on Thursday 14 December, 2023. The event was hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, former Director of think tank ‘Theos’ and current host of The Sacred podcast. The ceremony featured speeches from the shortlisted authors.
“I am delighted to award this prize to a book that embodies the heart of Christian faith. ‘God is love’ is a timeless message that drives us deeper into Gods arms and outwards to love others, as Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt expertly unpacks. I am grateful to all the immensely talented writers who featured in the prize this year and greatly enjoyed reading the wide array of excellent writing on the shortlist.” – Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
In 2019 the Michael Ramsey Prize was awarded to Mark Oakley for his book The Splash of Words: Believing in Poetry (Canterbury Press).
The prize was awarded at Greenbelt Festival on Sunday 25 August, 2019.
“Mark Oakley’s work shines with an infectious love for poetry and for theology. Written with power and subtlety, Mark shows us how poetry can change our whole view of the world. He sees poetry not just as a tool for expressing faith but as a way of understanding: God is in the world as poetry is in a poem.” – Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Read our interview with Mark Oakley
In 2016, the winner was John Swinton for the book Dementia, the prizegiving was held at Greenbelt Festival in August 2016.
Read our interview with John Swinton
The 2013 Michael Ramsey prize was awarded to Christianity and Contemporary Politics by Luke Bretherton at a gala lunch at the Telegraph Hay festival on 28th May 2013.
Read our interview with Luke Bretherton
In 2011, the Prize ceremony was held at the Telegraph Hay festival on 27th May 2011. The winner was David Bentley Hart with Atheist Delusions.
(Photo credit: Keith Moseley)
Read our interview with David Bentley Hart
In 2009, the Prize ceremony was held at the Guardian Hay Festival on 28th May 2009. The winner was Richard Bauckham with Jesus and the Eyewitnesses.
Read our interview with Richard Bauckham
In 2007, the Prize ceremony was held at the Christian Resources Exhibition. The winner was Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP with What is the Point of Being a Christian?
Read our interview with Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP
The Michael Ramsey Prize was inaugurated in 2005 when the winner was Bishop Tom Wright’s work The Resurrection of the Son of God – Christian Origins and the Question of God (SPCK).
Read our interview with Tom Wright
