A publishing home for the thinking Christian.
The SPCK Group brings together two of Britain's most loved Christian publishers — SPCK, founded in 1698, and IVP, publishing since 1936 — alongside seven further imprints. Bibles, theology, Christian living, ministry, fiction and books for children: nine imprints, one shared calling.
Royal patronage since 1839SPCK · Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge
More than a publisher. More than a charity.
SPCK is the biggest independent Christian publisher in the UK and a registered charity, patronised by the royal family since Queen Anne. Founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray, we have worked for over 300 years to increase awareness of the Christian faith in the UK and worldwide.
A market-leader in Theology, Christian Spirituality and Children's Bibles, we publish bestselling authors including Tom Wright, John Mark Comer, Paula Gooder, Alister McGrath and John Polkinghorne — alongside History, Self-Help and Leadership titles from Terry Waite, Melvyn Bragg, Janina Ramirez and Katie Piper.
"We strive to be relevant and transformative, reflecting the depth and breadth of Christian thought and theology in a changing world. As Christians we know someone and something that is life-changing."
Our values
Significant. Passionate. Creative. Knowledgeable.
Significant
We strive for our products to help people of all ages and from all nations to know Jesus better.
Passionate
We bring enthusiasm and pride to every project — focused relentlessly on great quality and great outcomes.
Creative
We give everyone the freedom to innovate and be bold so that our books can stand out in a competitive marketplace.
Knowledgeable
We are experts in our fields, building trust with our customers, authors and colleagues to deliver the best results.
Our story
327 years of incredible history
From a meeting at Lincoln's Inn in 1698 to today's digital publishing programme, SPCK has been continuously active for over three centuries — making us the third-oldest English publishing imprint still operating today.
- 1698
Founded at Lincoln's Inn
On 8 March, five friends meet to ensure Thomas Bray's good works will continue while he sails for Maryland. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge is born.
- 1714
First Tamil New Testament
SPCK helps produce the first Tamil New Testament — one of countless translations the Society would support over its first century.
- 1801
Books for Nelson's sailors
Horatio Nelson writes to the Society: 'I am again a Solicitor for the goodness of the Society… to hope that the Society will again make a present of Books.'
- 1839
Royal patronage
Queen Victoria becomes Patron of the Society — a role that has been continued by every monarch since.
- 1936
Inter-Varsity Press founded
IVP begins out of the work of UCCF and student ministry, becoming the leading evangelical publishing imprint in the UK.
- 2024
King Charles III as Royal Patron
His Majesty King Charles continues SPCK's longstanding relationship with the royal family by becoming the charity's Royal Patron.
IVP · Inter-Varsity Press · since 1936
True to the Bible. Engaged with the world.
IVP's mission is to publish Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission throughout the world.
We are the originating publisher for classic series that have served the church for decades — The Bible Speaks Today, Tyndale Old & New Testament Commentaries, the Apollos Old Testament Commentary and the New Studies in Biblical Theology series.
"Our vision is a world where everyone is transformed by the Word of God."
IVP Statement of Faith
What we believe — shared with UCCF
Echoing our history and our ongoing partnership, IVP shares the same Statement of Faith as UCCF. Everything we publish is overseen by our Publishing Board to ensure consistency with this confession.
There is one God in three persons — the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God is sovereign in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
The Bible, as originally given, is the inspired and infallible Word of God — the supreme authority in all matters of belief and behaviour.
Since the fall, the whole of humankind is sinful and guilty, subject to God's wrath and condemnation.
The Lord Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, is fully God; born of a virgin, sinless, crucified, raised bodily, and now reigning over heaven and earth.
Sinful human beings are redeemed only through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the only mediator between them and God.
Those who believe in Christ are pardoned and accepted in God's sight only because of Christ's righteousness — God's act of undeserved mercy.
The Holy Spirit alone makes the work of Christ effective, enabling sinners to turn to God and trust in Jesus.
The Holy Spirit lives in all whom he has regenerated, making them increasingly Christlike and equipping them for witness.
The one holy universal Church is the Body of Christ, to which all true believers belong.
The Lord Jesus Christ will return in person to judge everyone and to receive the redeemed to eternal glory.
Our team
The people behind the books
From editorial and production to leadership and trustees — meet a few of the people guiding the SPCK Group today.
Sam Richardson
Chief Executive · SPCK Group
Sam leads the staff team and works closely with the trustees. Joined SPCK in 2014 from commercial publishing; named Young Independent Publisher of the Year in 2016.
Wendy Grisham
Deputy CEO & Group Publishing Director
Wendy serves as Group Publishing Director, having previously worked at Alpha, Spring Harvest, and in commercial publishing. Looks after the IVP team and key relationships.
Thomas Creedy
Publishing Director · IVP
Tom heads up IVP's publishing and editorial teams, with a particular passion for academic and series publishing. Holds degrees in theology and mission.
Mark Read
Art Director
Mark designs and art-directs our book covers, with 14 years' previous experience designing the covers of bestsellers at a commercial publisher.
Stephen East
Chair of Trustees
A chartered accountant and former Finance Director, Stephen now serves on commercial and charitable boards and is an active member of Christ Church Tunbridge Wells.
Rt Revd Dr Michael Beasley
Vice-Chair of Trustees · Bishop of Bath and Wells
Combining ministry and science, Michael was consecrated Bishop of Hertford in 2015 and became Bishop of Bath and Wells in 2022.
A small charity with a big impact
Beyond publishing, the SPCK Group reaches across boundaries — geographical, social, cultural, linguistic — through Diffusion books for prisons, the Assemblies resource for schools, and Homegroups for the wider church.
Diffusion
Free, easy-to-read books to prison reading groups across the UK — over 32,000 books sent since 2010.
Assemblies
Over 1,600 free assembly scripts giving teachers a thought-provoking time of spiritual reflection.
Homegroups
A growing hub of free study materials and reflections written by theological and subject experts.