Centre for Medieval Studies
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- Johan Bergström-Allen
Johan Bergström-Allen
Johan Bergström-Allen (he/him) is a scholar of medieval English literature and religious culture, with a particular focus on the literary history of the Carmelite Order in England and more broadly across Europe.
Biography
Johan first came to the University of York in 1997 for undergraduate studies in the Department of English and Related Literature, incorporating periods in the Department of History of Art and at ‘La Sapienza’ University in Rome. At York he was supervised by Professor Sid Bradley who encouraged his interest in Medieval Studies and interdisciplinary research. Johan then undertook the M.Phil. in English Studies (1100-1500) at the University of Oxford, supervised by Professors Anne Hudson and Vincent Gillespie. Johan completed his doctoral thesis at the University of Lausanne in 2017 under the supervision of Professor Denis Renevey.
Prior to becoming a Research Associate of the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of York, Johan was an Honorary Fellow in the Department of History. His other affiliations include fellowship of the Institutum Carmelitanum (the Carmelite Order’s international scholarly academy) and the Centre for Marian Studies.
In 2020 Johan completed a Diploma in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University Chicago and Liverpool Hope University, and he is active in various ministries in the Diocese of Middlesbrough.
Research interests
Johan has a broad interest in the literatures of late medieval England and Scotland, and religious culture across Europe, especially devotional writings and works of ‘mysticism’. His particular focus is the literature, art, spirituality, and history of the Carmelite Order, which originated in the Holy Land and came to Britain in the thirteenth century. Johan is engaged in an ongoing international project studying the evolution of ‘contemplation’ as a key concept within the Carmelite tradition.
Interest areas include:
- Middle English religious literature: Richard Rolle, Walter Hilton, Julian of Norwich, the Cloud-author, Margery Kempe, monastic and mendicant writings, vernacular theology, popular devotions, religious drama, anchoritic culture.
- Issues of orthodoxy and heresy, especially Lollardy and Anti-fraternalism
- Hagiography, particularly the cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Authors and authority: Gower, Lydgate, Chaucer, Hoccleve
- Middle English lyrics
- Middle Scots literature
- Palaeography and manuscript studies
- Iconography
Having worked for the present-day Carmelite Order over two decades, Johan has been involved in a wide range of academic, teaching, heritage, and cultural projects. He has organised a number of symposia on mendicant history and spirituality, and been a consultant on various archaeological projects relating to medieval friars. He has served on the editorial board of two Carmelite periodicals, and edited a number of academic publications. Within his home city of York, Johan: has collaborated with The Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture; was a researcher and writer for the Monks of Micklegate HLF-funded exhibition at Holy Trinity Priory Church; served on the Heritage Development Group at The Bar Convent; was a trustee of York City Centre Churches Care and Development Trust (CoRE); and chaired the committee of The Ebor Lectures in Theology and Public Life.
Johan has a personal and professional interest in Pilgrimage Studies, and serves as a formator for volunteers at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. He is also an Honorary Guardian of the Shrine of Our Lady of Doncaster.
Selected publications
- ‘The Whitefriars Return to Carmel’, in Liz Herbert-McAvoy & Mari Hughes-Edwards, (eds.), Wombs and Tombs: Intersections of Gender and Enclosure in the Middle Ages, (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2005).
- ‘Looking Behind to Look Ahead: Finding a Future from the Early Carmelites’, The Sword, Vol. 65, No. 1 (2005).
- ‘Moving Mountains: The Carmelite Community’s Development of an Identity in York’ [with Antony Lester], in Sebastian C. H. Kim & Pauline Kollontai, (eds.), Community Identity: Perspectives from Theology and Religious Studies, (London: T & T Clark, 2007).
- Thomas Netter of Walden: Carmelite, Diplomat and Theologian (c.1372-1430), [edited with Richard Copsey], (Faversham: Saint Albert’s Press & Rome: Edizioni Carmelitane, 2009).
- Articles in Christianity & Culture multimedia resources: ‘Pilgrims and Pilgrimage’; ‘The English Parish Church Through the Centuries’; ‘The Carmelite Order’ and ‘Aylesford Priory’ in Dee Dyas (ed.), English Cathedrals & Monasteries Through the Centuries: History, Community, Art, Architecture, Worship, Music, Interactive DVD Rom, (York: Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture, University of York, 2013).
- Climbing the Mountain: The Carmelite Journey, (Faversham: Saint Albert’s Press & Rome: Edizioni Carmelitane, 2010, Second Edition 2014).
Teaching
Johan is a tutor and founding board member of the Carmelite Institute of Britain & Ireland. He has supervised dissertations in history and theology at the Universities of York and Durham, and is available for consultation in his research areas by students and the media.
External Links
