Whitley’s Associate Professor Robyn Wrigley-Carr continues to make a significant impact in the fields of Christian spirituality and pastoral care through both her academic contributions and her practical ministry initiatives.
In June 2025, Robyn delivered the prestigious Breck Lectures at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin, USA. Her three-part series, “Bearing the Beams of Love,” explored Evelyn Underhill’s monastic vision through themes of attentiveness, prevenience, and purification, resonating deeply with an engaged audience. Earlier that same month, she also led the Evelyn Underhill Quiet Day at The House of Retreat, Pleshey, UK. Themed “Abba: A Quiet Day with Underhill’s Words of Light and Hope Amidst Fragile Times,” the retreat offered contemplative space for reflection and renewal. Together, these events highlight Robyn’s ongoing role in bringing Underhill’s timeless insights to diverse audiences across the globe.
Alongside these teaching and retreat-leading engagements, Robyn has also been awarded an ARTFinc Research Grant of $5,149.50. This grant will extend her earlier research on retreat leadership for pastoral carers who support people living with dementia. As part of this initiative, Robyn will design a Benedictine-inspired spiritual retreat and lead five HammondCare pastoral carers at Jamberoo Abbey in September 2026. By drawing on the rich wisdom of the Benedictine tradition, the retreat aims to nurture, spiritually refresh, and strengthen those on the front lines of providing vital spiritual care in residential aged care settings.
Through her scholarship, retreats, and research, Robyn exemplifies the integration of academic theology, spiritual formation, and practical pastoral care. We celebrate with her as she continues to serve both Whitley and the wider community with depth, wisdom, and compassion.