Stephen is the vicar of Christ Church, Virginia Water. Originally from Lowestoft in Suffolk (the most easterly point in England), he became a practising Christian at university in 1973. After graduation, he served for four years as an evangelist with Agape in the UK and Eastern Europe (1976-1980). In 1980 he was accepted for training for the Anglican ministry and studied at Trinity College, Bristol (1980-1983).
He was ordained in 1983 has served as a curate in St Leonard’s on Sea, Sussex (1983-1986), then as Curate in Charge, then Rector of St John’s, Stoke, Guildford in Surrey (1986-1979). He was appointed vicar of Virginia Water in 1997.
Stephen is Vice Chair of Biblica Europe Ministries Trust. Biblica has completed more than 100 languages, and is the translation sponsor and ministry publisher of the New International Version (NIV), the most widely read and trusted contemporary English translation.
He is an Advocate (trainer) for the Christianity Explored Course and has assisted in the launch of the course in Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan, Burundi and Poland.
He supports the Fellowship of Word and Spirit, New Word Alive, Reform, Keswick and UCCF. He is a member of the Executive of the Guildford Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship and Guildford Diocesan Synod.
He is:
- a Patron of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD-UK),
- a Patron of Sadaka – the Ireland Palestine Alliance,
- a Trustee of Friends of Sabeel UK,
- a founding member of the Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism (ISCZ),
- on the Advisory Council of Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU)
- the UK Board of Reference for the Mar Elias Educational Institutions, in Ibillin, Galilee, founded by Bishop Elias Chacour.
- an active member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
- a founding member of the Balfour Project.
- a member of the Drafting Committee of Kairos Palestine: Britain and Ireland
He has Press Accreditation as a freelance photographer from the Palestine News Network (PNN) and Holy Land Trust. His photos and videos have been used by:
- Awareness Foundation
- Anglican Media Sydney
- Anglican Mainstream
- Burrswood Hospital
- Decision Magazine
- Ecclesio
- Elam Ministries
- Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding (EMEU)
- Evangelicals Now
- Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda
- Impress Books (Dan Cohn Sherbok)
- Inter Varsity Press (IVP)
- Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD-UK),
- Lapido Media
- Methodist Recorder (Kairos Palestine)
- Tearfund NZ
- The M.E. Trust
- Times of Israel
- Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)
- Surrey Life
In 2004, he co-authored the statement Challenging Christian Zionism endorsed at the 5th International Sabeel Conference in Jerusalem.
In 2006, he debated Neville White of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group and was instrumental in the Church of England General Synod decision to divest from Caterpillar.
In 2006, he co-authored the Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism for the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem.
In 2010 he co-authored the Bethlehem Evangelical Affirmation, endorsed by participants at the Christ at the Checkpoint conference sponsored by Bethlehem Bible College.
In 2011 he co-authored the Seven Affirmations of Bethlehem Bible College and in 2012, the second international Christ at the Checkpoint Conference Statement and Manifesto.
In 2013 he helped draft the Kairos Palestine UK Response.
He is a consultant and contributor to the film With God on our Side and produced a Bible study guide to complement the film and his book Zion’s Christian Soldiers.
He is a contributor to Bridges of Faith, the international Evangelical-Muslim Dialogue Group. He has attended and contributed to their four annual consultations in Chicago, Tripoli, Pasadena and Toronto.
He is chair of governors of St Ann’s Heath School, Virginia Water.
Stephen gained his BA in Geography from Sussex University in 1976, a Diploma in Higher Education (Dip HE) in 1983 from Trinity College, Bristol, and his MTh (with distinction) from Oxford University in 1994. In 1998 he was awarded a doctorate of membership in Action Learning (DPhil) by International Management Centres Association (IMC). In 2004 he was awarded a PhD by Oak Hill College and Middlesex University. His thesis examined the historical roots, theological basis and political consequences of Christian Zionism in Britain and the USA from 1820.
Stephen has served as an external examiner for post-graduate degrees (MPhil and PhD) awarded by the University of Wales, the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) and also Tyndale-Carey Graduate School, Bible College of New Zealand.
He is the author of three books, In the Footsteps of Jesus and the Apostles, (Eagle, 2004) Christian Zionism: Roadmap to Armageddon (IVP, 2004) and Zion’s Christian Soldiers: The Bible, Israel and the Church (IVP, 2007). He also writes occasionally for various journals and magazines and contributes occasionally to Premier Christian Radio.
He enjoys photography, painting and golf (badly), and walking Wentworth Dilly the family dog.
