Samuel Wells Appointed in Utrecht and Amsterdam

Theologian Sam Wells, vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and Visiting Professor at Kings College London, has been appointed Visiting Professor at Utrecht Theological University (TUU) for a three-year term. At the same time, Wells will actively contribute to a training programme for church renewal at the Protestant Church in Amsterdam (PKA) as a visiting scholar.

In Utrecht, Wells will be affiliated with the Expertise Centre for Church Renewal Kerk2030. Hans Schaeffer, research director at TUU, calls Wells an important and influential theologian. “The way he leads and renews the congregation of St Martin-in-the-Fields is unique and at the same time widely applicable. Many of his books are translated into Dutch and they are highly influential in the Netherlands. We hope to draw on his experience, knowledge, and insights in the coming years.”

In Amsterdam, Wells will collaborate with Martijn Horsman, catalyst for church renewal at the PKA (Protestant Church of the Netherlands), and with Tim Vreugdenhil, pastor of the missionary community Citykerk, inspired by St Martin’s. Martijn Horsman says: “These times demand creative training. Wells has the gift of bringing together research, the practice of church and city, and entrepreneurship. We are pleased that we will be able to share this with many people in the years to come.”

The appointment stems from a successful pilot project in 2025, during which Wells was active in Amsterdam, Leiden and Utrecht. Wells comments on his appointment: “I look back fondly on my previous visits to the Netherlands. It is an honour to have a permanent connection with these two institutions. The challenges of being church in the current situation in the West are enormous. At the same time, we can learn a great deal from each other. I look forward to exploring together what a theology of being with looks like in a Dutch context.”