New Director of Ordinands for Southwark Diocese

15 Jun 2005

The Rev Dr Robert Titley, Vicar of All Saints, West Dulwich and Area Dean of Streatham, has been appointed by the Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Rev. Dr Tom Butler, as the new Director of Ordinands for Southwark Diocese. He succeeds the Rev Canon Stephen Roberts, who is to become the Archdeacon of Wandsworth,

Robert Titley, who is 49, trained at Westcott House, Cambridge, having completed one year of the Southwark Ordination Course prior to this. He was ordained deacon in 1985 and priested in 1986. His entire ministry has been in Southwark Diocese as he served his curacy at St Michael, Lower Sydenham and All Saints, Sydenham. He went on to be Chaplain at Whitelands College, at what is now Roehampton University, combining this with being a visiting lecturer in New Testament studies at the College and looking after the Greenwich University students on the site. He is an Area Director of Ordinands for the Kingston Episcopal Area and prior to this was the Lambeth Archdeaconry Local Ministry Adviser, working with candidates for Ordained Local Ministry and their parishes. He has a PhD from King's College, London on the Biblical scholarship of Austin Farrer.

Prior to ordination training he received a Classics degree from Christ's College, University of Cambridge and worked as a management trainee for the National Coal Board. He is married to Caroline and they have a son and a daughter.

Speaking of his new appointment Robert Titley said, 'I'm very excited about this job. Questions of vocation - 'What is God asking of me?' - take us to the heart of the gospel and it will be a privilege to explore them with people in such a varied diocese as ours. As one of the parish clergy I have always felt at home in our Cathedral, and I look forward having a regular part in its worship and life'.

Bishop Tom said, 'Robert Titley is a talented priest who has a great deal of experience in exploring vocation with candidates from around the Diocese. He will be a great asset to the Diocesan and Cathedral team and I look forward to working with him'.

Ends.