The Priest-in-Charge

Canon Mark Oakley was born in Shrewsbury and studied Theology in London and Oxford before taking up his first appointment as Curate of St John’s Wood Church (1993-1996). He was then asked to become the Chaplain to the Bishop of London (1996-2000) and was appointed a Deputy Priest in Ordinary to HM the Queen in 1996.

In 2000 he was installed as Rector of St Paul’s, Covent Garden, the church otherwise known as “the Actors’ Church”. In 2005 the Bishop in Europe appointed Fr Mark as Archdeacon of Germany and Northern Europe as well as Chaplain of St Alban’s Church in Copenhagen. The Bishop in Europe appointed him a Canon Emeritus of Brussels cathedral in 2008. Late in 2008 Fr Mark joined us at the Chapel as Priest-in-Charge. As a Bishops' Adviser and an occasional Selection Secretary, he also has some responsibilities for the Church of England regarding the selection of men and women for ordination.

Fr Mark has published three books: The Collage of God (2001), John Donne: Verse and Prose (2004) and Readings for Weddings (2004) and has contributed to other volumes including Spirituality in the City (ed. Andrew Walker) 2005 and Celebrating Creation (ed. Mark Chapman) 2004. He regularly reviews for various journals and papers, including Church Times.

His interests include contemporary novels and poetry, theatre, horse riding and walking his wirehair dachshund, Fritz.

To email Canon Oakley: mark.chaplain@gmail.com

For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Oakley or Crockford's Clerical Directory or Who's Who.