The Right Reverend Michael Evans MTh
Bishop of East Anglia
Michael Evans was born on 10th August 1951 in South London, and moved to Whitstable in Kent when he was five. He attended St Mary's Catholic Primary School there, and went on to Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in Canterbury. He went straight from the Sixth Form to study for the priesthood at St John's Seminary, Wonersh, near Guildford in Surrey.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 22nd June 1975, and spent two years as assistant priest at St Elizabeth's in Richmond, Surrey. From 1977-1979 he studied for a Master of Theology degree at Heythrop College, University of London, and then returned to St John's Seminary for eight years as lecturer in Christian Doctrine. While there, he was also chaplain to St Teresa's Convent School in Effingham, Surrey.
From 1985-1987 he was Vice-Rector at the seminary, with the then Monsignor Peter Smith (later the second Bishop of East Anglia, and now Archbishop of Cardiff) as Rector. From 1987-1993, he was a University chaplain at the South London Universities Chaplaincy, returning to the seminary from 1993-1995, once again as lecturer and Vice-Rector.
From 1995 until 2003, Canon Michael Evans was parish priest of St Augustine's in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He was appointed Canon Theologian of the Archdiocese of Southwark by Archbishop Michael Bowen in 1996, and had many other responsibilities. He has been a regular writer of articles and pamphlets on theological issues.
Ecumenical dialogue has always been an important part of his ministry. From 1991-2003, he was a member of the British Methodist/Roman Catholic Committee, and in 1997 was appointed by the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity to be one of the eight Catholic members of the International Joint Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church. Every year for over twenty five years he has spent a week's retreat at the ecumenical community at Taize in France, and now invites young adults from the diocese to accompany him there each year.
From 1989-2003, he was been a member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference Committee for Priestly Formation. From 1995-2003, he was chairman of the Archdiocese of Southwark Justice and Peace Coordinating Committee.
He was ordained as the third Bishop of East Anglia on March 19th 2003 by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.
Among his more 'secular' interests, Bishop Michael lists being a fervent life-long supporter of Leeds United Football Club, and having a great liking for both the music of Shostakovich and any food with red hot chillies! He also has a great interest in Cambodia. His past parish was twinned with the Catholic community of Kompong Thom in Cambodia.
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