Jonathan Swingler
Jonathan Swingler is an academic at the University of Southampton. He was not one of the signatories to the 2002 Estelle Morris letter but has been closely associated and involved with the Hyde Street Chapel in Winchester. That church, in turn, has been very closely associated with several signatories to the Estelle Morris letter including Andy McIntosh (spokesman for the 27 signatories), Stuart Burgess and Paul Garner. Professor Terry Hamblin of the University of Southampton was signatory to the letter as well.
Swingler is listed as a Senior Research Fellow by Southampton University. Swingler is understood to have led open air meetings, in conjunction with the Open Air Mission, of Hyde Street Chapel. (See http://about.zoominfo.com/directory/Swingler_Jonathan_691818146.htm)
According to an article by Swingler published in Evangelical Times "the ‘open airs’ in Winchester, conducted by Hyde Street Chapel in association with the Open-Air Mission, have been operating for over two years now. What is our approach?"
"A team of ten go out to the same spot in Winchester city centre on a regular basis. A regular spot and time is essential for people to get familiar with you being there — and they know where to come for help."
"A board for visual aided talks acts as a focal point for the preacher. The other team members provide a ‘crowd’ and distribute leaflets as appropriate. We never give leaflets or talk to people who are listening to the preacher. We let them hear the gospel!"
"When they move off, we then engage with them. We also have team members giving testimonies to add variety. Our aim is to present the gospel in a clear, sane manner."
See http://www.evangelical-times.org/articles/jun04/jun04a14.htm for the full report. Swingler admits that they made no converts. To get a flavour of Swingler's opinions, read this: http:://www.newhumanist.org.uk/volume120issue6_comments.php?id=P1799_0_39_0_C
Swingler appears to be active in the Southampton University Christian Union and the Netley Christian Fellowship. Netley is basically a suburb of Southampton. (Fundamentalists are very active in the Christian Societies/Unions of British universities – Answer in Genesis's Paul Taylor spoke to the Christian Union of the London School of Economics in 2006.)
The author of this report on Swingler must admit that he has no memory of seeing these people in the centre of Winchester. However, Winchester High Street is pretty notorious amongst locals for the number of street hustlers and dubious-looking people trying to sell religion or what not.
Confirmation of Swingler's academic position can be found at http://www.soton.ac.uk/ses/people/SwinglerJ.html .
His personal web site is at http://www.soton.ac.uk/~swingler/ and this provides a link to the Biblical Creation Society.
The Times Higher Education Supplement of 23rd June 2006 states he is a YECer. His testimony (in effect) can be found at http://www.newhumanist.org.uk/volume120issue6_more.php?id=1799_0_39_0_C .
