Ann Loades passed away on Dec 6, 2022. She was a dear friend to many, and one of the great figures in 20th and 21st century theology. Through her courage, tenacity, and drive to get straight to the heart of things, Ann forged a trailblazing path. She was the first woman to receive a personal chair at the University of Durham, and the second person ever to be honored with a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to theology. She made theology possible for an entire generation of scholars. She will be profoundly missed. You can view her AT THE THRESHOLD film here.
There are things one can only learn by witnessing an extraordinary life. Ann's combinations of fierceness and kindness, of brutal realism and endless readiness to work for change, are such things. We could not have imagined her--but we can follow her.
-- Prof. Judith Wolfe
No single adjective could describe the potent mixture of energy, insight, sagacity, and thoughtfulness that was Ann Loades. She was a trailblazer, a top-notch scholar, and a careful thinker. On top of all this, she was kind to younger scholars like me, offering incisive advice and good counsel that made you feel up to the task, like you could overcome any obstacle. She will be deeply missed.
-- Prof. Garrick Allen
Ann Loades was a remarkable and unusual theologian. Never one to mince words. She didn't tolerate nonsense, and pushed––herself and others––to look to the boundaries of theology for resources that could reinvigorate the work of theology. When I stumbled across Howard E. Root's 1972 Bampton Lectures, for instance, it was Ann who encouraged me to make something of it, and I'm grateful that she did. She was generous and kind while being fierce and critical in the very best sense. She once began an email to me "And another thing..." as if we were already in the midst of conversation, and that's a conversation––and conversation partner––I'll sorely miss.
-- Christopher Brewer, Ph.D.
Ann was not just an outstanding theologian but also a fascinating person – the kind of person you do not forget. When we met in the Fall of 2022, at the screening of “At the Threshold”, we discovered that we had two things in common: Our date of birth (though not the same year) and a personal connection with John Hick. Theology of Religions (my field) and Feminist Theology are both pioneering explorations, and in the academic world Ann will remain a major representative of Feminist Theology for a long time. She will be remembered as a theologian who provided highly significant contributions to a spirituality that is profound and livable amid all the contemporary challenges that religions face. She left, but her spirit continues to inspire.
-- Prof. Perry Schmidt-Leukel
Ever prolific, Ann's most recent book, "Explorations in Twentieth-century Theology and Philosophy: People Preoccupied with God" will be available on Amazon this coming March, 2023, and can be pre-ordered now.
