Dr. James Crossley

Biography

James Crossley is the Academic Director of the Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) at the University of Cambridge, a position he began in 2024. He previously served as a Professor at St Mary’s University from 2015 to 2022, and held multiple roles including Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, and Professor at the University of Sheffield from 2005 to 2015. With a robust academic background including visiting positions at King’s College London, the University of Exeter, and the University of Nottingham, his expertise encompasses historical Jesus studies, Christian origins, and the intersection of religion and politics. His research delves into apocalypticism in relation to societal and political dynamics, producing significant works such as his monograph 'Spectres of John Ball' (2022) and editing important volumes like the forthcoming 'Quest for the Historical Jesus' (2024). He is also co-editor of the online, open-access 'Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements'. Crossley's scholarship engages deeply with English radical history and reception of biblical narratives in political discourse, highlighting figures and movements that have shaped these domains over centuries.

Research Interests

Experience