Life and Adventures of Felix Piran

Peter owen jones - what a guy and such a thinker

Television presenting is just the latest challenge for the Reverend Peter Owen-Jones - in a varied career ranging from advertising executive to priest. The Battle for Britain's Soul (BBC TWO) was Peter's first role as a presenter, and he has recently finished filming a second series. He was spotted by BBC producers when he made a brief appearance in the BBC FOUR documentary series, Church of England: The Power and the Glory, earlier in the year. Pete entered the priesthood just over ten years ago and has balanced his filming commitments with his work as a parish priest in Cambridgeshire. Pete was born in South London in 1957 and grew up in Kent. After leaving school, he worked as a farm labourer for about eight years, as well as running a mobile disco on the side. He then began work as a messenger in advertising agency Wight Collins Rutherford Scott and worked his way up through the ranks. As Creative Director at Toys in the Attic, he was responsible for high-profile campaigns for clients such as the Green Party, Swiss Air and Ryvita. In 1991, Pete left the world of advertising to train for the priesthood. He spent two years at Ridley Hall Theological College before becoming a curate in a parish near Wisbech on The Fens. But he maintained an interest in advertising, working with the Church's Advertising Network on campaigns including the controversial Che Guevara poster of Jesus for Easter 1999. Pete is currently a non-stipendiary priest in Sussex. He has written several books including Bed of Nails (1998); Small Boat, Big Sea (2000) and Psalm (2005), and is founder of the Arbory Trust - the first Christian charity to offer woodland burials. He spends his spare time with his four children and pursuing country pursuits including mountain scrambling, fishing and vegetable gardening.