St Cross College, Oxford

On the retirement of the Revd Philip Ursell at the end of 2002 as Principal of Pusey House after twenty years in office, the Revd Jonathan Baker succeeded him as Principal and became a Pusey Fellow of the College.

Fr Jonathan was born in 1966, was brought up in Pinner and read English at St John’s College, Oxford, from 1985 to 1988, staying on to gain an MPhil in Elizabethan English literature. For his research, he studied the poetry and dramatic works of Samuel Daniel, an Elizabethan government administrator in Ireland, and Daniel's influence on Shakespeare, particularly in the sonnets. He studied for the ordained ministry of the Church of England at St Stephen's House, Oxford, reading for the Oxford Theology BA. In 1993 he was ordained deacon in Christ Church Cathedral, was in due course priested and served as a curate at All Saints, Ascot Heath. In 1996 he was appointed Priest-in-charge and later Vicar of Holy Trinity with St. Mark's, Reading.

While studying for his MPhil, Jonathan met his wife Jacqueline, who at the time held a scholarship in English at Pembroke College, studying Browning. They returned to Oxford with three children, Dominic (eight), William (four) and Caris (one). Jacqueline is an enthusiastic gardener and Jonathan helps this with regular destructive activities. They both enjoy theatre and opera and hanker after travel in Italy.

We welcome them back to Oxford and look forward to cordial relations between the College and Pusey House during Fr Jonathan’s term as Principal.

Diarmaid MacCulloch