Chris Shannahan

Dr Chris Shannahan is an Associate Professor in Political Theology in the Centre for Peace and Security at Coventry University. He is a political theologian and his research focuses largely on Christian responses to poverty, inequality and racism and the development of a contemporary theology of liberation. Before joining Coventry University in 2015, Chris was a Lecturer in Religion and Theology at the University of Manchester (2013-2015). His Doctorate (2008, University of Birmingham) developed the first critical analysis of urban theology in the UK and led to work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Urban Theology and then a Teaching Fellow in Religion and Society at the University of Birmingham (2009-2013) where he developed a major ethnographic project working alongside unemployed young men on a large Birmingham housing estate.

His first book, 'Voices from the Borderland' (2010) was described as a ‘ground-breaking’ example of cross-cultural urban theology and is a set text at Universities and Theological Colleges in the UK, the USA and Australia. His second book, 'A Theology of Community Organizing' (2013) provided the first systematic theological analysis of broad-based community organising. His research also utilises Hip-Hop culture as a discourse of meaning, as seen in his 2012 partnership with the street artist Mohammed ‘aerosol’ Ali on his ‘Bromford Dreams – Graffiti Spiritualities’ action research project. Between 2018-2021 he was the Principal Investigator on 'Life on the Breadline', the first fieldwork led analysis of Christian responses to austerity-age poverty in the UK within political theology. In 2025 he published his third book, 'Life on the Breadline: Theology, Poverty and Politics in an Age of Austerity'. Chris has also led or shared in research projects focusing on schools linking as a model for social cohesion, Generative AI and Religion and new patterns of Christian masculinity. He is currently developing two new projects, one on Christian responses to the Far Right and a second foccused on Christian responses to systemic poverty.

Chris's research arises from more than 20 years grassroots experience as the head of Religious Education in a large East London Secondary school; a youth worker in the East End of London and Trenchtown, Jamaica; a Methodist Minister in inner-city London and Birmingham and a community organiser. This diverse background informs and influences his commitment to researching, teaching and writing for progressive social change.