Fr Simon Bishop SJ has died

Image Jesuits in Britain

Jesuits in Britain write:

It is with sadness that we report that Fr Simon Bishop SJ, died on Sunday evening, 4 January 2026.

Fr Simon was 58 years old, in the 33rd year of Religious life.

He was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 28 March 1967 to his father George, who died on 30 November 2001 and his mother, Dawn.

He was the youngest of four children. Simon was baptised at St Peter's church, Oyster Bay, Dar es Salaam, on 8 April 1967. Several happy early years were spent in Fiji. He was confirmed at St Peter's, Stonyhurst, on 4 November 1979.

Simon went to school at Stonyhurst before studying Theology at Cambridge University (1986-89) after which he qualified as a social worker at York University (1990-92) In September 1993 he entered the Jesuit Noviciate in Birmingham. Studies in Philosophy followed at Heythrop (1995-98) before a time teaching and Youth Ministtry at Wimbledon College.

Simon then went for Theology studies at Centre Sevre in Paris. He was ordained deacon there at St Ignace in 2003. He was ordained priest at the Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon in the same year. In 2004, after completing his studies, Simon was missioned as Chaplain to St Aloysius College, Glasgow. In 2006 he was given the task of Vocations Promoter. Simon went for tertianship in Australia in 20-09 bia a visit to Guyana. He then went to the Oxford Chaplaincy as Assistant , becoming Senior Chaplain in 2010. In Oxford he took his Final Vows in the Society of Jesus in November 2011. After three years from 2014 as Director of Spirituality for the Province, Simon was appointed Novice Master in September 2017. It was around that time that his illness first struck. He continued to work as long as he could, being an exemplary presence in the Birmingham Community.

Please pray for the repose of his soul and for the consolation of his mother Dawn and all his family and friends.