After studying theology at Cambridge University in the 1960s, our Hampshire-born vicar worked as a probation officer in Manchester for seven years. He then trained for the ministry at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield. Simon was ordained deacon in 1979 and priest in 1980. He served his curacy in the Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Ashton-under-Lyne. In 1982 he was appointed Priest-in-charge (later Vicar) of St Gabriel, Prestwich in north Manchester, and at the same time Chaplain to the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Stanley Booth-Clibborn.

In 1988 he was appointed Team Rector of Westhoughton (from 1997 of Westhoughton and Wingates), a town about the same size as Chippenham mid-way between Bolton and Wigan. During his time in Westhoughton he built a new parish church after the previous church was burned down, and instituted a new local ecumenical partnership with the Methodist and United Reformed Churches. He was also Chair of Governors of two Church of England primary schools.

In addition to his parochial experience Simon has served in the wider church in a number of capacities. Just before coming to Chippenham he was Chair of the Manchester Diocesan Liturgy Committee, and took an active role in introducing the new Church of England Common Worship liturgies in the Diocese.

In 2000 Simon was appointed Vicar of St Andrew Chippenham with Tytherton Lucas, where he continues to minister. In addition to his parish duties, he served for a time as Chair of Bristol Diocesan Liturgy Committee and as Area Dean of Chippenham; he is currently Secretary of the Diocesan Child Protection Officer’s Support Group.