The Right Reverend Monsignor Roderick Strange was born in 1945 and ordained priest in 1969 following preparation at the Venerable English College, Rome. From 1970 he was working on Cardinal Newman's understanding of Christ at Oriel College, Oxford, and completed his doctorate in 1974. It was published as Newman and the Gospel of Christ (Oxford, 1981). Since then he has written and lectured on Newman extensively and has worked as an adviser to the BBC, most notably during the papal visit to the UK in 2010 when Newman was beatified. He continues to write regularly for The Times and to lecture and direct retreats around the world. Since 2015, he has held the post of Professor of Theology at St Mary's University, Twickenham, the only faith-based university within the London area.