The Rev’d Dr Jason Phillips

Father Jason trained at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford, where he undertook a Master of Ministry degree course. His training placements were at Manchester Cathedral, Soho Parish Church in London and St Giles’ Hospice in Whittington! As well as being a parish priest, Fr Jason supports the Diocesan vocations team and mentors candidates exploring vocations. Fr Jason joined us from the Blakenall Heath Churches in Walsall. Previously he was at St Mary’s, St Chad’s and St Leonard’s in Stafford. Before that he was curate of Mid Trent which encompasses ten village churches between Burston and Hixon.

Fr Jason has always had an interest in inter-denomination and interfaith relations, and his doctorate was based on Judaism and Jewish identity. He has written articles for the Journal of The Council of Christians and Jews, of which he is a member. He draws spiritual strength from the Benedictine tradition and undertakes periodic retreats to Ampleforth Abbey. He has led a number of retreats for the John Young Foundation that seeks to combine medicine and theology in its work.

Fr Jason enjoys the theatre and regularly attends shows in Stoke, Lichfield, Stafford and London. He enjoys travelling and has visited Australia and Spain many times and also Rome, San Francisco and the Far East, including Japan. He enjoys cooking for friends and is especially fond of Italian food and trifle. His former team of churches always ensured that trifle was present at major events! Fr Jason also used to be guest chef at a luncheon club for the elderly in central London from time to time which he enjoyed enormously.

The Bishop of Stafford has said of Fr Jason that ‘he brings a strong spiritual and calm presence coupled with an enthusiasm to drive forward the workings of the Holy Spirit’.