We welcome our new Chaplain – Fr Benjamin Drury

After a ten month vacancy and two wonderful locums, Fr. Terry Hemming and Fr. Marcus Ronchetti, we are delighted to announce the arrival in June of our permanent senior chaplain Fr. Benjamin Drury.

Father Benjamin grew up in Richmond, Yorkshire, and spent most summers in Greece in his Godparents’ village. His father was a political Geographer specialising in the Balkans and Cyprus, his mother medieval latin paleography – both at Durham University.  At Worcester College, Oxford he read Ancient and Modern History, and then an M.Phil in Byzantine Studies; focusing on Armenian History , Byzantine Art History, and a Psalter Manuscript from the 11th century. He explored his vocation initially at his College Chapel then continued exploring his vocation as Pastoral Assistant of St Michael’s and St Paul’s, Brighton. Ben was two years Pilgrimage Course Assistant at St George’s College and Cathedral, in East Jerusalem before returning to Oxford to read Theology at St Stephen’s House. His final year was on exchange at the Venerable English College in Rome. Fr Benjamin’s Curacy was in Oxford Diocese, first in Stony Stratford then in New Hinksey near the city centre. Since 2019 Ben has been Priest in Charge of St Luke’s Prittlewell and in addition this last year of St Mary’s Benfleet. He is a Priest Associate of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham and a brother of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC). He enjoys discovering new places on foot, and exploring ruins.

We look forward to giving him a warm St Paul’s Welcome when he arrives in June.