Paul Cowley

Paul Cowley grew up in Manchester amid the chaotic world of his alcoholic parents. His early exposure to heavy drinking, explosive arguments, and the unnerving aggression of his father led him on a restless journey of homelessness and petty crime. At seventeen, he served a short prison sentence in HMP Risley. 

At the age of 21 he enlisted into the British Army and during nearly 17 years of duty he did 2 tours of Northern Ireland during the Troubles and served in the Falkland’s campaign. In 1992 he left the Army as a Staff Sergeant, having served in the Royal Artillery, The Royal Green Jackets and the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. He became the General Manager of The Bath & Racquets Club in Mayfair and then he went on to run Champneys’s Health Club in Piccadilly.

In 1994, after being a non-believer for almost 38 years, he attended an Alpha course and became a Christian. He went with a team from his church to HMP Dartmoor and became passionate about caring for people both inside prison and upon their release. In 1997 he joined Holy Trinity Brompton as their Prison Pastor and pioneered the Alpha course within the UK and International prison systems.

In 2002, after completing a degree in theology, he was ordained into the Church of England. In 2005 he founded the charity ‘Caring for Ex-Offenders’ (CFEO), which has helped over 2000 men and women reintegrate back into society. In 2012 he became the founder of The William Wilberforce Trust. In 2014 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lord Longford Trust for his work in prisons.

Paul has had twenty-five years’ experience of working with socially excluded and vulnerable adults, and is the Bishops’ Advisor to Prisons in London. In 2015 he was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to ex-offenders. He has pioneered HTB’s last two church sites, Queens Gate, running a traditional and Anglo Catholic service and HTB Dalgarno in North Kensington: an urban deprived area.

Paul is a Governor of Glendower Girl’s Preparatory School in South Kensington and chaplain to two previous High Sheriffs of London. Paul is a part-time chaplain at HMP Wormwood Scrubs and HMP YOI Feltham. In 2016 he was appointment Bishops’ Advisor for Prisons and Penal Affairs in London. He is also associated chaplain to the Royal Hospital Chealsea home of the Chelsea Pensioners.

From the 5th September he takes up a new role as Director of Rehabilitation at Iceland foods retail group, specialising on the employment for exoffenders and those on the margins of society.

His latest book Thief Prisoner Soldier Priest published by Hodder has now become a best seller..

He is an international speaker, broadcaster and published author.