Eileen Thompson – Team Priest

Eileen joined St John’s in the early 1990s when studying practical theology at New College. Much of her career has been spent working with the church overseas, as linguistics advisor for the United Bible Societies and as Communication Secretary/Director for Council for World Mission. This has taken her to 21 countries and over 30 denominations. Although a cradle Anglican, it seemed a natural progression to be ordained in the united churches of South Asia. She was made deacon in the Church of Bangladesh and presbyter in the Church of South India. On returning to the UK, it was a wrench to be attached to a single denomination and she was sent to Livingston Ecumenical Parish. There she was a CofS, Methodist, and URC minister as well as an episcopal priest. In 2013 she returned to St John’s, which had been her spiritual support whilst overseas. She loves being immersed in SEC liturgy and life, though she still works ecumenically. Eileen still enjoys travelling, is a keen photographer, reads voraciously, and enjoys the cultural feast Edinburgh has to offer.