Matt is Dean of St Philip’s Cathedral in Birmingham. He took up this post in September 2017. Each year St Philip’s Cathedral hosts the Big Sleepout for St Basils.

Matt grew up in the West Midlands and attended school in Walsall. He studied Theology & Religious Studies at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.

Matt was ordained in Manchester Cathedral and spent the next 23 years in Greater Manchester. He served in four urban parishes in Hulme, Langley, Clayton and Bolton.

Throughout his ministry, he has been particularly involved in schools, urban regeneration, interfaith ministry and community cohesion. He is interested in practical theology, the philosophy of education, and Ignatian spirituality.

Housing and homelessness have been key areas for Matt during his ministry. He was a Director of Hulme Regeneration Limited during the 1990s which allowed him to understand housing issues and their impact on individuals, families and communities. Later, whilst he was the parish priest of Clayton, he engaged closely with the work of the East Manchester Regeneration Board during the 2000s. Whilst Vicar of Bolton, Matt enjoyed serving as a trustee of a housing charity which provided high quality housing for local residents at affordable rents and also supported the work of the borough’s schools via an imaginative grant-making scheme.

Matt joined the Board of St Basils in December 2020 as a Nominated Director. He was nominated to the Board by the Bishop of Birmingham and is delighted to be able to build on the long-standing partnership with St Basils.