Dr Philip Booth

I am currently working as Programme Leader for the Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences Foundation Year, having recently completed my Leverhulme ECR. My research focuses in the history of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as well as the history of pilgrimage and tourism and I teach mainly on topics related to Medieval history. I joined MMU in 2019 after working at Lancaster University, the University of Birmingham, and Nottingham Trent University. 

When I’m not reading about the latest pilgrimage trends, I like taking my kids out exploring the wilds of Lancashire and Cumbria, watching Derbyshire CCC, following the exploits of Derby County in League One, and indulging in playing 40K and D&D. 

My research centres around the history of pilgrimage to the Holy Land and thus brings together interests in the history of medieval travel (to the Holy Land and beyond) and the history of pilgrimage more generally (including contemporary expressions).

More generally, I’m interested in the how expressions of pilgrimage have changed over time and space and how these forms of religious travel can create opportunities for cultural interaction and exchange, particularly between groups coming from diverse religious traditions.

My current work includes: a monograph on and a new edition of the Holy Land pilgrimage account of Thietmar (1217-1218); research into contemporary LDS (Mormon) pilgrimage to the Holy Land; Thomas Cook’s Palestine tours as pilgrimage; as well as developing funding bids for a project, alongside Dr Kathryn Hurlock (MMU) and Dr Anne Bailey (Oxford), which will explore links between contemporary walking pilgrimages and medieval forms of pilgrim movement and travel.