Through his decades of ministry, the Revd Ray Simpson, inspired countless individuals through his teaching, hospitality and writing.

Born in Aylesbury in March 1940, Ray was raised in Woking, Surrey, alongside his older brother Tony and younger sister Sally.

His early years were shaped by wartime Britain, and later, by a strong sense of calling to serve the church.

Ray Simpson at a Community of Aidan and Hilda Gathering in 2024 (Image: Courtesy of Network Norfolk)

He trained for the Anglican priesthood at the London College of Divinity and was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral in 1964.

During this formative period, Ray encountered the movement Initiatives of Change (then known as Moral Re-Armament) at their centre in Caux, Switzerland. The experience left a lasting impression on him.

Early curacies in Stoke-on-Trent and Tooting were followed by a post with the Bible Society in East Anglia.

An aerial view from 1973, before Bowthorpe was built (Image: Newsquest)

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