Care, Cambridge, the Church and I

Care, Cambridge, the Church and I

By Will Lyon Tupman (Girton 2014; Westcott 2019).

At thirteen years old, I was orphaned and had not been to school. It was almost impossible at that time to even imagine that, eleven years later, I would be a Cambridge graduate embarking on my journey towards ordination in the Church of England. How did this happen, and how crucial is Cambridge in my story?

Almost my whole life changed after the death of my parents; I started school and moved into foster care, where I lived for six years as my life gradually stabilised again. While I had initially thought even considering applying to Cambridge to be completely unrealistic, my foster carers encouraged me and sent me on an open day organised for people in foster care by the Cambridge Admissions Office. The team there frequently kept in touch with me throughout the application process, supporting and advising me along the way, while my school and foster carers helped to prepare me for my interviews and my exams.

I amazed myself, and made my offer to Cambridge to study the Theology and Religious Studies Tripos. I specialised mainly in Biblical papers, but I also studied numerous other papers including Christian doctrine, philosophy, ethics, and even New Testament Greek! In the spirit of St. Anselm's “faith seeking understanding,” this aided my understanding of the Christian faith – and my faith was also an aid to my studies. Having a greater understanding of my faith, through academic study, is helpful both for me and others around me, as I use my understanding and theology to help guide others in their Christian journey.

I loved my three years at Girton College; through Girton, and the wider University, I have made a great network of friends. College life suited me perfectly – and I especially enjoyed the countless Formals I attended! I was also very generously supported financially by my College and its Benefactors, by means of awarding me a bursary each year – boosted further for me, as I had been in foster care. I am very grateful for this, and for how Cambridge is continually working to ensure that the University is open and affordable to all.

With over seven hundred societies and clubs at Cambridge, it was easy to get involved with the extra-curricular life of Cambridge – both in College and the wider University. Photography and writing are two of my favourite hobbies, so I spent two years as a photojournalist for The Cambridge Student. In addition to attending a number of Churches and working with the Christian Union, I was a Chapel Warden and Choral Scholar at Girton. During my time in Choir we had three fantastic tours – to Portugal, Toronto, and Hong Kong and Macau; I feel especially lucky to have had these experiences. Evenings with Girton's poetry society were a real highlight – even if I was probably better at enjoying the poetry of others than writing my own! I am also a keen runner, and enjoyed representing both my College and the University competitively (especially at Varsity!), and in my third year I co-captained Girton's team to win the College League in both men's and women's categories – the first time Girton has won both competitions in the same year. I also helped to run the very same open days I had once attended during my time at Girton, as a former Care Leaver.

After three fantastic years at Girton, I graduated with my BA and then spent two very exciting years in London. My time at Cambridge had perfectly prepared me to study my Master's in Biblical Studies at King's College London, a year which I also thoroughly enjoyed. After completing my Master's, I spent a year working as a Pastoral Assistant at St. Michael's Church in Croydon, a placement which has given me many invaluable experiences – both in the Church, and in the wider community. I have worked as a hospital chaplain, a refugee volunteer, and a College Chaplain at Croydon College – a diverse school, where I have also founded a Chess Club.

What does the future hold for me? It was during my time at Cambridge that I began discerning with the Church of England to see whether I have a vocation to ordained ministry. This initially began with a conversation with my College Chaplain, the Rev'd Dr Malcolm Guite; he was not at all surprised that I was feeling called by God in this way, and he encouraged me to pursue this further. I have continued this journey of exploration since then.

Following the Bishop's formal recommendation for me to train for ordination, I will be returning to Cambridge to spend two years of study, training, formation and placements at Westcott House, an Anglican theological college and a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation. Words can hardly describe how excited I am about this, and my whole future – something which Cambridge has been instrumental in helping to guarantee.

Nothing is impossible; everything is possible. Realise your potential; achieve your goals.