Fr Philip is our new Senior Chaplain here at Newman House, and for the Universities and other institutes of higher education in the Diocese of Westminster.

He was born in London, and grew up in Kent and in St Albans, Herts, where he attended Nicholas Breakspear Catholic Secondary. He did his own university studies in Natural Sciences (Physics) at Cambridge, and then completed a PhD in radio-astronomy (on quasars) at the Cavendish Laboratory. At Cambridge he was heavily involved in the university chaplaincy, and gained immensely from that happy experience!

After Cambridge he lived in central London for a few months and worked for the Catholic charity, Providence Row, assisting in a hostel for homeless men.  Fr Philip was then accepted to study for the priesthood for Westminster diocese, and attended the Venerable English College, Rome, and was ordained in his home parish of SS Alban & Stephen in September 1999.  Since then he has served in Enfield parish, then in hospital chaplaincy at Barts & The Royal London, and most recently for 14 years as Parish Priest of St Augustine’s, Hoddesdon.  As well as his new post as Senior Chaplain here in Newman House, he has a number of other diocesan responsibilities, including sitting on the Sick & Retired Priests’ Committee, and being Co-ordinator of the Ethnic Chaplains.

Fr Philip is also the person to contact if you are interested in being Baptised or received into the Church.