About Me

Hi, I am David, and I am currently in my second year of the Encounter Course with the London Centre for Spiritual Direction. I was born and raised in the Baptist and Evangelical expression of the Church and have a deep respect for both these traditions. However as I grew up I never really felt that I truly belonged in these faith communities.

When I was in my teenage years I watched a documentary on the BBC called ‘The Big Silence’. it was filmed at Worth Abbey and I distinctly remember feeling intrigued and excited by this ancient outworking of a faith who’s modern expression for me was becoming increasingly stale. I booked myself on to a silent retreat at Worth Abbey, not really knowing what to expect.

When I arrived I raged against the silence and what was being offered. It was unnerving and confronting. So like a modern day Jonah, I  went and hid in the abbey. Eventually I had had enough of hiding and I tentatively emerged to join the evening session only to discover it had snowed outside. As I stood and watched the gentle snow add to the growing blanket that had covered everything in fresh whiteness I entered into the silence fully. I found the presence of the Divine in the quiet and stillness.

Since then, I have continued to discover the Divine in quieter and older ways of prayer and practice, often in places I might not have expected.

Receiving Spiritual Direction has been a wonderful a gift and has helped me to identify and respond to God’s movements in my life. I am excited to be able to offer this type of companionship to others.

My background includes a BA in Applied Theology with Community and Family Studies and ecumencial church-based community work. I also worked for fifteen years in teaching and school leadership, as well as in communications and design within the charity sector. All of these experiences continue to inform the way I listen and accompany others.

I live in Surrey with my life partner and our adopted son.