Who’s who

Fr Ignatius Edet, Parish Priest

I was born in Nigeria; the second of three brothers. I started my formation to the priesthood in 1986 as a secondary school student in the junior seminary, after which I enrolled in the Major Seminary (St Joseph’s Ikot Ekpene) where I studied for two undergraduate degrees for four years each – BA Philosophy (1997) and BD Theology (2001). I was ordained on the feast of Ss Peter and Paul 2001.  After two years of ministering in formation of seminarians and vocation directorate, I was awarded a scholarship for postgraduate studies in the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium): MA Religious Studies and Theology (2004); MA Advanced Studies in Religion and Theology; Licentiate in Sacred Theology – STL (2005); PhD in Religion and Theology; Doctor of Sacred Theology – STD (2010). I came to Southwark by the end of June 2011 and served as Curate at St John Fisher, Merton from the beginning of July 2011 till 9 September 2015, when I resumed as parish priest of St Mary of the Crayford (Kent), before coming to Tolworth on 18 September 2018. Outside parish ministry, I have served in other capacities in the diocese, including: lecturer in Ecclesiology in the defunct Education for Parish Service (EPS), Tooting Bec, lecturer in Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations in the Permanent Diaconate Programme, and lecturer in Sacramental Theology at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh. I also serve as one of the vocation promoters in the diocese and a member of the diocesan committee for the Ongoing Formation of Priests (OGF) with responsibility for overseas priests in the diocese. I enjoy reading, cooking, travelling, meeting people, gardening, cycling, watching football (meanwhile, I’m an ‘inclusive fan’ of Chelsea FC) – and would very much like to try swimming and golf soon!

S