Project Violet was a three-year participatory research project that examinined the place of women in Baptist ministry. It was co-led by Helen Cameron and Jane Day. Project Violet has been undertaken by the Centre for Baptist Studies at Regent’s Park College, Oxford and funded by the Mission Forum of Baptists Together and Baptist Trustees.
Full information about the project can be found on its website: www.projectviolet.org.uk
All the outputs from Project Violet have now been uploaded permanently on ORA (Oxford University Research Archive). This makes them available to future researchers and teachers in perpetuity. The link takes you to a list of all the items, this includes reports, reading lists, films, podcast episodes and posters. We are aware that colleagues find some of these resources useful in teaching.
The landing page for the project can be found at:
https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:cea294d7-2dc3-457c-a13c-d8681698d6d7
Project Violet is named after Violet Hedger, the first Baptist woman to be trained for ordination at Regent’s Park College.
Project Violet has investigated women’s experiences in ministry whilst developing women ministers. The project has helped understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in Great Britain and identify ways forward.
Participants have been engaged in research and supported in asking questions and seeking answers. They have been accompanied through the project so that their own voice as an advocate for change has developed.
The theological and practical findings of the project are now available here.
You can follow the Project on Twitter (X) (@ProjectViolet1) or Facebook.
Click below to expand the accordion links for the main outputs from this important research project.
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International Symposium
A Project Violet International Symposium was held online in January 2025.
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Videos
Videos:
A webinar was held on 23rd November 2023 to discuss how to respond to the findings of Project Violet. The PowerPoint slides are here Project Violet November 2023 and you can watch the video here:
In addition a 15-minute film ‘A name to live up to’ has been released with an accompanying study guide. The film features an interview with Helen Pankhurst a prominent advocate for women and Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University:
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Podcast
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Publication
Publication:
The Centre for Baptist Studies has also published a book about the early woman Baptist pioneer Edith Gates, available here: ‘A Woman Shall Do It’: Edith Gates, Neglected Pioneer (2023), Chris Voke
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Accountability Statement
Accountability statement:
Project Violet has researched women’s experiences of Baptist ministry. It has uncovered sorrows as well as joys, unjust treatment as well as flourishing. The process of publishing and considering the findings may give rise to strong opinions and disagreements. Where these are expressed charitably, they are welcomed but where they undermine the identity and ministry of an individual they are not.Jane Day and Helen Cameron as Project Violet Co-leaders welcome scrutiny of their behaviour.
Complaints about Jane Day can be made in the first instance by contacting her line manager Diane Watts, Faith & Society Team Leader, Baptists Together (dwatts@baptist.org.uk) or by accessing the ministerial complaints process.
The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Complaint against an Accredited Minister
Complaints about Helen Cameron can be made in the first instance by contacting Dr Tim Middleton, Director, Centre for Baptist Studies, Regent’s Park College, Oxford. Tim.middleton@regents.ox.ac.ukIf things are said that undermine the identity and ministry of any of the participants of Project Violet, a complaint will be made by Regent’s Park College who are responsible for Project Violet, to the relevant Baptist organisation.