Dr James Broad

Associate Supervisor
Email: tbc

James is an Associate Supervisor for postgraduate supervision at Westcott House with expertise in:

• Christian/gospel rap music
• UK rap music
• Pentecostal spirituality and the Pentecostal movement in the UK
• Qualitative methodologies and social science methods including positionality

James’ areas of research involve the Pentecostal movement in the UK and Pentecostal/charismatic spirituality. His PhD, which he completed during Covid alongside a teaching and personal tutor role at his university, examined personal testimony narratives in the Pentecostal movement and how narrative shapes identity on both an individual and communal level. He analysed testimony through examination of UK Christian rap lyrics and interview data generated with rap artists from London.  James is interested in the methodology, reflexivity and positionality in research and the interface between theology and social science methods. He also holds an interest in the relationship between music and theology, and the use of theological themes in wider popular culture.

Combining in his research a passion for the study of theology with a personal connection to rap music, James has been releasing music as a rap artist for over 15 years and has taught rap lyric writing and performance workshops across all age ranges. He presented online for Sheffield Centre for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies Research Seminar on presentations of the Bible in UK Christian rap and contributed a blog piece for the Centre for the study of Bible and Violence. He was also recently interviewed for a segment on BBC Radio 4 discussing Christianity in rap music.

Currently, James is working as part of a group of academics and educators in curating a one-day conference at the Round House in London in October 2025 to examine the social, cultural, and religious impact of an album by UK Rap Artist, Bashy.

James has presented papers at a number of academic conferences for professional bodies that he is involved with, including the Society for the Study of Theology, International Network for Music and Theology, and the British New Testament Society.

Outside of academia and research, James enjoys making music, staying active and spending time with his two cats.