Biographical

I’M THE VICAR (Anglican Parish Priest) of Bramhall – a large, welcoming and energising parish in the suburbs of Stockport, Cheshire, UK. I love family, friends, poetry, silence and theology, reading and writing generally, and discourse on pretty much any subject under the sun. Open to people, open to learning something new every day, I find my life as a priest as challenging, absorbing and life-enhancing after 30 years as I did when I set out on this adventure with God and I’m especially keen to encourage any and all to “apply their minds” to matters of faith. We no longer live in a “three tier universe” – heaven above us, earth in the middle, hell below. Approaches to biblical understanding and appreciation have irrevocably changed the way we read the Scriptures. There are tumultuous consequences for such a huge sea change at the early years of the twenty-first century. I’m amongst those who find the era of necessary change we’re all living through both madly frustrating at times, and also hugely exciting.

I love (and sometimes hate) the Church and have been privileged to serve as parish priest in 5 very different parishes, and in the 1980s as Chaplain to an extraordinarily creative Diocesan Bishop – Roy Williamson. A lover of words, I’m also a great believer in the healing power of contemplation, “de-cluttering”, care-full liturgy, recollection, silence, stillness and sacred space. A great deal of my time is happily involved with Church life but I spend a healthy proportion of my life in the “wider world”, too, breathing God’s good fresh air, absorbed in photography, love of good coffee and food, love of people generally, and family and friends particularly, and I stand in awe and wonder before the majesty of God’s creation.

Contemplation | photo:simonmarsh

In Church-speak I’m a Liberal Catholic – most at home in inclusive and open-minded environments, most alienated and uncomfortable in the (especially religious) places of dogmatic “certainty”. I am in no doubt whatsoever that all the world’s faith traditions can and should learn from one another – and all must aspire to live alongside each other in mutual respect and peace.

Life is absurd sometimes! I never feel better than when I’ve been caught on the hop, as it were, by a hugely funny joke or happening. To have cried laughing is to have known something of the fullness of life. The same applies to having been moved to tears by sorrow or greatness. Theology and the arts help me to celebrate, every day, the open-armed and open-hearted generosity of God. And maybe that’s because I’m possessed, too, of a great many of the usual human frailties. My life is littered with contradictions and questions, doubts and assurances, regrets and delights. A life lived “uphill and down dale”. My wife Jilly and I share interest in family, friends, home, garden, canoeing and holidays – in the English Lake District, France and Spain.

24 thoughts on “Biographical”

  1. Fine site. At various times Michael Marshall conducted retreats at the DeKoven Center, RAcine, Wisconsin, which I keenly remember. I’ve lost touch. What has come of him?

      • I helped Bishop Michael with a book some time ago,he is temporary Rector of the Church of the Holy Rest,New York,but not there yet. Sometime in March.

        Hello Simon,I stumbled across this on the internet.
        I hope all is well with you.

        Paul

  2. Congratulations on your centenary. I was a regular at St Michael’s in 1965 when I lived briefly in Bramhall. I was just 13 at the time. I remember the music was wonderful. I got up early to go to Communion on Ascension Day to find it was a full sung service!

    • And I’ve been meaning, David, for a while, to say here “thank you for your kind encouragement, and for your own blog, too.”

  4. I’m glad you’re enjoying my new book. Thank you for taking the time to plough through it. I also love Sara Miles, both as a writer and a human being. She’s the greatest!

    If there’s ever a chance to get me into your neck of the woods to talk about the book, please let me know!

    Blessings and peace of Christ to you.

    • Thank you very much indeed. I’m mesmerised by the breadth and depth of “Come Out My People!” – and am doing all I can to recommend it widely. All blessings upon your continuing work.

  5. I confess to being an irregular and sometimes doubting back bencher within your congregation but your sermons are a source of inspiration and they undoubtedly call to the soul.
    I never knew this site existed. I think it is great.
    Best wishes
    Peter

    • Peter, thank you very much indeed. Every good House needs good backbenchers. Thank you for your kind encouragement. I’m glad you found the blog.

  6. Thank you for another beautiful service on Sunday Father Simon. I came to the Sung Eucharist & was very uplifted by the service, as I was last Wednesday too. I was particularly touched when you asked a young couple up to the front with you & with their little baby asleep in his carrier. You told the congregation the names of their other children and that they had called this young chap George. That was my Father’s name and his Father’s too ! I saw them in the car park afterwards ensuring he was safely seated in their car, and it was so nice to watch them nuturing & caring for him…

    Looking forward to attending my next service at St. Michael & All Angels, Bramhall very much… Thank you.

    • Thanks Peter. It was good to see you. Meeting up with George for the first time on Sunday was indeed very special.

  7. Thank you Fr Simon for your reply. And thank you for such a wonderful 9am Mothering Sunday service yesterday. I loved it ! So different to any service I attended at Sy Michael’s or indeed anywhere before. So nice to see the children getting involved and interested and participating and contributing to the church at such a young age and enjoying it very much too I noticed. I Hope that the Messy church launch on Saturday was a great success and will continue to thrive and grow. Very best wishes to you and god bless. Peter.

    • Peter, thank you. We’re certainly blessed by a lot of fun and enthusiasm amongst our young folk here. Thank you for your kindness and encouragement.

  9. I did not have an opportunity to read your biography. Most clergy would do well to visit your site and to learn– to live. Your energy and love of God comes through. You bring the Kingdom of God to life and do so in a way that makes it real to this day and age. How refreshing. I look forward to perusing and enjoying your blog.

    • Thank you very much :) . I immediately noticed in your own biographical notes that you look for diversity and celebrate it. I always warm to that. It’s one of the keys to what I believe Jesus thought of as “fullness of life”. I shall enjoy continuing to follow your own writings. Joy to you, and love and peace at Easter.

  10. So very nice to “meet” you, Simon, what a beautiful, thoughtful space you have created here. Thank you so much for sharing
    anne

    • Anne: Thank you, too, very much indeed. I love my frequent visits to your own glorious space in the blogosphere and am grateful that you generously invite others to share it. It’s a further joy to observe that I’m not alone in that enjoyment and fellowship. Peace for you :)

  11. I just stumbled across your bio and when i read the following, it was as if you were writing about me.
    “A lover of words, I’m also a great believer in the healing power of contemplation, “de-cluttering”, care-full liturgy, silence,  stillness and sacred space – and a great deal of my time is happily involved with Church life; but I spend a healthy proportion of my life in the “wider world”, too, breathing God’s good fresh air out there, absorbed in photography, love of good coffee and food, love of people generally, and family and friends particularly, and I stand in awe and wonder before the majesty of God’s creation.”
    So nice to meet a kindred spirit in the blog world.
    Peace,
    Alexandria

    • Alexandria: What a very lovely way to say hello :) . Thank you for doing so. It does, indeed, sound as though we’re kindred spirits and I’m now a new and proud follower of your own blog. Thank you for having such loving intentions for the world. Joy and peace for you, too. Simon

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