Owen Spencer-Thomas

Canon Owen Spencer-Thomas, MBE, is the official media spokesperson for the Ely Diocese. He represents the Bishop of Ely and handles media enquiries on behalf of the Diocese in addition to generating a range of opportunities for the Church in broadcasting and the press. He has written a range of useful articles which are published on the diocesan website. Ordained in the Diocese of London in 1972/73, he has wide experience in the field of communications and in particular with television and radio broadcasting.

Broadcasting experience Owen spent nearly twenty years as a television and radio news journalist and was senior reporter on Anglia News and Anglia TV's regional magazine programme About Anglia. He also presented the late night religious programme Reflections on Anglia Television. He has been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours and Sunday programmes and has presented religious and ethics programmes on Thames Television and Southern Television. He has reported for Independent Television News. Before entering full-time broadcasting, he was Director of the London Churches' Radio Workshop which produced programmes for local radio and trained clergy and other Church leaders to appear on television and radio. He joined BBC Radio London as religious producer in 1976 and devised and presented a radio phone-in programme, Sounding Brass, in which listeners requested their favourite music from a live brass band in the radio station's famous Marylebone High Street studio. Church appointments Owen served his curacy at St Luke’s Church Redcliffe Square, London and was also Lecturer in Religious Studies at the South Kensington Institute. He has been resident in Ely diocese since 1978. He assists in the Parish of the Ascension, Cambridge, as honorary team priest and has held several school chaplaincies.  He was also Chaplain to Christ’s College, in the University of Cambridge, for four and a half years until 31st December 2001. He became acting Dean of Clare College, Cambridge, during the Lent Term 2005 and acting Dean of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, during the Easter Term 2006. He was made an Honorary Canon of Ely Cathedral in February 2004.

Educational background Born in East Hertfordshire, Owen comes from a farming background. After attending Christ Church Cathedral Choir School, Oxford, from the age of eight, he continued his education as a teenager at Ardingly College, West Sussex. He studied at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Before going to Westcott House and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge to study theology in 1970, Owen graduated in sociology at The Polytechnic, Regent Street, (now the University of Westminster) where he helped to establish its Students’ Union.  He became its first elected President, a sabbatical post, in 1966. In 1967 he was one of the principal organisers of the successful nationwide campaign to reverse the Government’s decision to impose a fourfold increase in overseas students’ fees.  He is a member of British Equity, The Royal Television Society, The National Union of Journalists and The Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama. He became a member of British Mensa in 1980. Owen is married to Maggie; they have three adult children.  He led a successful regionwide fundraising campaign which led to the establishment of the first specialised accommodation and day care for adults with autism in Cambridgeshire. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's 2008 New Year Honours. He can be contacted on Diocesan business by email Owen.Spencer-Thomas@ely.anglican.org

Owen Spencer-Thomas
28 June 2008

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