Senior Lecturer
Liverpool Hope University, UK
Dr. Sarah Holmes is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies within the School of Education at Liverpool Hope University and also serves as Director of Research at the Institute of Children, Youth & Mission (CYM).
Her academic and professional work centres on the spiritual development of children, with a particular focus on how faith is nurtured within the home and family context. She is passionate about helping churches, families, and educators understand how faith formation can be supported across diverse settings, including home, school, church, and community.
Sarah’s broader research interests include religious education, family and child well-being, and inclusive approaches to faith nurture—particularly regarding neurodiversity and additional needs. She has contributed to numerous projects, publications, and research initiatives exploring how faith is experienced and expressed by children and families in contemporary society.
Before joining Liverpool Hope University in 2015, Sarah spent many years working in church-based children’s and family ministry. She completed her Ph.D. on faith nurture in the home and continues to bridge academic research with practical ministry application.
Based on the Wirral, Sarah is married with four children. Outside her academic work, she enjoys volunteering in her local church, running, and spending time with her family.
