The Reverend Father Mark Elvins, KCGCO, OFM, Cap.,

Fr Mark came to stay overnight, so that he could visit Ann Roberts who was named Catholic Woman of the Year, this year, she is seriously ill in hospital, I found this article on him on something which seemed to be a rather Tatleresque website. Fr Mark had been a curate here.

Father Mark Elvins was appointed a Chaplain to the British and Irish Delegation in 1982 following his investiture as Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace of the Constantinian Order of Saint George. In 2003 Father Mark was awarded the Gold Benemerenti Medal of the Constantinian Order.
He was born in 1939 as the son of a former Rector of Dover Castle, the Reverend Elvins. Father Mark studied at Dover College, St Stephen’s House in Oxford, Beda College and the Gregorian University in Rome and Heythrop College, University of London from where he graduated as a Master of Arts.
Father Mark’s career began when he entered Sandhurst and became a Captain with the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department. In 1961 he became Assistant Manager at St James’s Gallery in Jermyn Street until his appointment as Assistant Editor of Debrett' Peerage. Between 1965 and 1973 Father Mark read theology at Oxford and Rome.
Following his ordination in 1973 at Arundel Cathedral, Father Mark became Assistant Curate and Chantry Priest to The Duke of Norfolk.His next appointment was at St Mary Magdalen’s in Brighton (1980-1990). From 1985-1986 he was Chaplain to the Master of the Worshipful Company of Scrivenors. Father Mark then became Parish Priest at Henfield (1990-1993).
Father Mark’s philanthropic commitment and compassion is expressed in his numerous Christian engagements. Father Mark is the founder of Simon House for homeless in Oxford (1967), St Thomas Fund for the Homeless in Brighton (1980), Becket Homes for the homeless in Canterbury (1997). Father Mark is also a Director of Chester Aid to the Homeless, a Council member of the Crime Prevention Initiative and the St Thomas Fund.
Father Mark is a keen author whose recent titles ‘The Church’s Response to the Homeless’, ‘Cardinals and Heraldry’, ‘Catholic Trivia’ and ‘Towards a People’s Liturgy’.
In 1999, Father Mark was professed as a friar of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He is also Chaplain of Magistral Grace of the Order of Malta.