Ian Bradley grew up in the south-east of England and has lived in Scotland for the last twenty four years. Educated at Oxford University, he was for eight years a features writer on The Times. He has also been head of religious broadcasting for BBC Scotland and taught at Aberdeen University. He is currently Reader in Church History and Practical Theology in the School of Divinity at St Andrews University, associate minister of Holy Trinity Church, St Andrews and honorary Church of Scotland chaplain at St Andrews University. He is a frequent broadcaster and contributes regularly to the Guardian, the Tablet, the Church Times and History Today.