Reverend Dr. Simon Thorn - Associate Clergy

After training as a neurophysiologist at Bristol University, I became a biology teacher and was Head of Biology and Head of Science at Radley College, Abingdon for 14 years.

I was ordained by the Bishop of Oxford in 2009 after training part-time on the Oxford Ministry Course at Cuddesdon. I joined the Hermitage Team as a self-supporting curate in 2011, while serving as Chaplain and teaching biology at Downe House School.

In 2015 I was appointed Dean of Chapel of Winchester College where I also taught biology until retiring from teaching at the end of 2019. In 2020, I was briefly Associate Vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford until Covid lock-down. I have been Chaplain (Sea Cadet Corps) RNR since 2010. I am an honorary Chaplain for Winchester Cathedral and Grand Chaplain to the United Grand Lodge of England. I was a Foundation Governor of Cold Ash St Mark's CE Primary School 2013-20 and am a trustee of a number of charities.

I am currently employed as a hospital chaplain for Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust covering the West Berkshire and Wokingham Community Hospitals.

My wife, Rachel, is a freelance editor. She was Assistant Examinations Officer at Downe House and has sung professionally. We have a trans daughter who studied Music at Oxford and is now a professional composer and musician. Our hobbies are gardening, making and listening to music and walking our three whippets.