Bridget Margaret Heal

Prof. Bridget Margaret Heal is the Head of the School of History at the University of St Andrews and holds the rank of Professor. Her research focuses on the long-term impact of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations on German society, emphasizing visual evidence in religious history. She has authored influential monographs such as The Cult of the Virgin Mary in Early Modern Germany (2007) and A Magnificent Faith (2017), which explore the intersection of art, identity, and Reformation theology.

Education: MA (University of Cambridge), MA (University of London), PhD (University of London). She has held visiting fellowships, including at the Freie Universität Berlin (2017-18). Her research interests include Early Modern Germany, the Thirty Years' War, and Lutheran visual culture. She has led projects funded by the British Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Carnegie Trust.

Her publications analyze Lutheran baroque art, confessional identity, and the role of visual piety. Notable awards include the 2017 ACE/Mercers' Book Award nomination. She has served as Editor of German History and contributes to media, including BBC documentaries. Current roles include Director of the St Andrews Reformation Studies Institute.