Humanist Chaplaincy
A Humanist is someone whose knowledge is based on reason and evidence, who lives an ethical life based on empathy and compassion, and who strives to build a kinder, fairer and more reasonable society.
"Humanism in a nutshell"
- Putting human beings and other living things at the centre of your moral outlook.
- Seeing the world as a natural place, and looking to science and reason to make sense of it.
- Promoting and supporting human flourishing across all frontiers, and championing human rights for everyone.
Humanists UK (formerly the British Humanist Association (BHA))
Chaplains serve all in the University of Exeter community; staff/students of any faith background or none. They offer specialist faith advice, pastoral and spiritual support and run events from various different faith traditions and worldviews.
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Dr Jacqueline Watson: Humanist Chaplain
I’m Jackie and I’m a non-religious chaplain. I joined the university chaplaincy team recently, in 2025.
Life is precious, but it can also be challenging, and sometimes we need space to make sense of things and rediscover meaning in our lives. I’m very happy to meet with anyone – religious or not religious – to have a chat, to be a listening ear, and to provide a bit of space for reflection and support. I’m available on Wednesday afternoons at the Multifaith Centre on Streatham Campus.
I’m a member of Humanists UK and had chaplaincy training with the Non-religious Pastoral Support Network. For the past 10 years, I was a non-religious chaplain at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, and I was also a Humanist Celebrant carrying out weddings and funerals. Before that, I was a lecturer and researcher in education at the University of East Anglia, with a special interest in spirituality. If you search google scholar for ‘Jacqueline Watson spirituality’ you should find my academic papers, if you’re interested. Before that, I was a secondary school teacher of religious education, and I completed my PGCE at St Lukes, here at the University of Exeter. It’s great to be back!
I love ideas - whether religious, philosophical, or scientific. I also love walking in the country and gardening.
Humanist Hour
Every Wednesday 1 - 2pm
Do you know what a Humanist is? What core beliefs they have, and the work they do?
Come to our weekly Humanist Hour event at the Multifaith Centre to find out. Led by our Humanist Chaplain Jackie Watson, you will have the opportunity to informally chat and get to know different humanists who will share about themselves and their practice. This is a drop-in event, open to all at University
