Erm!?! Where to begin? At the very beginning I suppose, as Julie Andrews so memorably said in the Sound of Music! I was born in Cheadle in North Staffs in 1973 and was baptised at St Giles' Roman Catholic Church in Cheadle (Pugin's Gem). I went to St Giles' Junior School then on to Painsley R. C. High School. There has never been a time in my life when I can not remember being an organist and in fact at the age of 12 was church Organist at St Giles'.

When I left high school I was unsure as to what to do. One day, completely out of the blue my then Parish Priest returned from our local crematorium, of all places, told me that their ogranist was off sick and that he'd given them my name to help them out for a couple of weeks. At this time I also played the organ in the evenings for Old Tyme, Ballroom, and Modern Sequence dances. Six years, many dances and some 13,000 funerals later I resigned; I was going to St Mary's College Oscott (near Sutton Coldfield) to train to be a priest.

Most of my six years at Oscott was spent as Organist and Choirmaster. After six years at Oscott, and following my Ordination I was appointed to Fr Tony Rohan as assistant priest in the Holy Family Parish, Small Heath; as well as being chaplain to Holy Trinity High School. I was there for just two years before being appointed as assistant to Fr Gerry Breen at Holy Trinity Parish Sutton Coldfield and chaplain to Bishop Walsh Catholic College. I was there for exactly a year before being appointed as Parish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace parish in Worcester on 1 September 2005. As Parish Priest I am also the chaplain both to the University of Worcester and Worcester Royal Hospital.

I thought I was fairly 'up to speed' as an assistant but I've still found it to be a learning curve of a right angle! But, I have the love and support of a wonderful, strong, and vibrant parish community for which I thank God and of course His Grace the Archbishop. As for the future? Well who knows? Its all in His hands. In the meantime we continue doing our bit in building His kingdom here on earth. 

God Bless,

Father Paul.