Home People Revd Mark Bennet MA MMath ACA
Revd Mark Bennet MA MMath ACA
Mark is the Honorary Treasurer of Westcott Council and Chair of its Finance sub-committee.
He is a parish priest and Chartered Accountant with a longstanding interest in theological education. His parish ministry encompasses large urban parishes in Leeds, Harlow and Thatcham, while his time as Area Dean of Newbury brought rural multi-parish ministry into sharp focus. Urban ministry also led to some serious working with schools and Mark serves on the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education and has been Chair of Directors of a Multi-Academy Trust.
Mark developed a serious interest in pastoral/practical theology during his ordination training at Westcott House (1998-2001). He subsequently taught on a master's course in Chelmsford and has served on the committee of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology since 2006.
Mark's first love in life was Mathematics, the subject in which he obtained his first degree at Sidney Sussex College, together with a distinction in a postgraduate year (now MMath). This led to a career in accountancy, and after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG Mark was involved with training, specialist advice and the emerging discipline of Forensic Accounting. He spent time with the Serious Fraud Office investigating major frauds (Polly Peck, Maxwell) before moving to solicitors Leigh, Day & Co and working on financial aspects of their litigation caseload.
Mark has always wanted to put his accounting knowledge and experience to the service of the church, and served on the Southwark Diocesan Board of Finance before commencing ordination training. More recently he has served as treasurer of WATCH (member of the National Committee from 2006-2018, including a period as vice-chair).