Specialises in early modern political and religious history, particularly in relation to the history of the English parish church. His current research interests lie in three main areas:

• The English Civil War, with a particular focus on the role played by Bristol and its governors.
• The seventeenth-century Church of England, with a particular focus on parish and administrative histories.
• The history of the University of Bristol and, in particular, historians working at the university in the period from the foundation of the College (1876) to the retirement of Professor Charles M. MacInnes (1957).

Teaching:

John teaches a range of undergraduate units relating to the political, religious, cultural and social history of early modern England and Europe. In 2019/20 he will be teaching the following units:

• Year 3 Reflective: Witchcraft (with Dr William Pooley)
• Year 3 Special Subject: Kingship and Crisis during the Wars of the Roses
• Year 1 Outline: The Early Modern World
• Year 2 Outline: Rethinking History
• Year 2 Option: Fear and Loathing
• Year 2 Option: The Tudor World

In 2019/20, John will be serving as the Admissions Officer in the Department of History and as Deputy Director of Teaching.