Forward in Faith is delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Middleton as Director. He will succeed Dr Colin Podmore, who is to retire in February after seven years in office.

As the Greater London Authority’s Assistant Director of Finance and Governance, Tom Middleton currently leads a team of 35 people at London’s City Hall, where he has worked for the last 18 years. He was previously on the staff of the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office. He holds a degree in theology from Durham University and a postgraduate diploma in public finance and leadership from Warwick University, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Administration (CIPFA). 

Tom worships at St Silas, Kentish Town. He is Treasurer of the Society of Mary and has recently been appointed as Clerk to the Trustees of the Cleaver Ordination Candidates Fund.

The Chairman of Forward in Faith, Bishop Tony Robinson, commented: ‘I am delighted that Tom Middleton has agreed to be our next Director. He comes to us after a distinguished career working in finance and governance. He will bring a wide range of skills which will help us develop even further over the coming years. I look forward to the next chapter in Forward in Faith’s task of strengthening the place of The Society within the Church of England.’ 

Tom Middleton said, ‘I am greatly honoured to be taking up this role. I look forward to meeting as many of my fellow members of Forward in Faith as I can and to working with the trustees, Council members and branch officers. I shall do my utmost to continue the sterling work of Forward in Faith and its current Director in promoting the Catholic faith as we have received it in the Church of England.’