Married to Anne since 1988 I am a poet, priest, writer and broadcaster based in or near Haywards Heath since 2001 with three sons based nearby in London, Burgess Hill and Brighton.
I am a member of the northern branch of the ancient Twisleton family (https://twisleton.blogspot.com/) originating near Settle in North Yorkshire (https://tomtwisleton.blogspot.com/) and linked to the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family headed by Lord Saye and Sele of Broughton Castle, Banbury (https://twisletonhistory.blogspot.com/).
Since Anne’s early Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2022 I am her carer. I was born 1948 in Doncaster and before being ordained priest in 1977 did research into polymers at Oxford University working towards creating the light weight electrical conductors that are components of smart phones. Previous church postings include Doncaster (1976-1986), Guyana (1986-1990) (https://guyanaventure.blogspot.com/), Coventry (1990-1996), London (1996-2001) and Sussex (2001 to date) where I have served as Chichester diocesan mission and renewal adviser (2001-9) and Rector of St Giles, Horsted Keynes (2009-2017). I attend or celebrate Mass daily with main church involvements nearby at St Richard, Haywards Heath, St John the Evangelist, Burgess Hill, St Bartholomew, Brighton and St Mary, Balcombe.
I love writing poems (https://johntwispoems.blogspot.com/) and articles (http://www.twisleton.co.uk/Articles), have twenty published books (http://www.twisleton.co.uk/Publications/index.html) and broadcast regularly on Premier Radio (https://www.premierchristianradio.com/shows/finding-joy-in-the-lord/).
A hardy blogger I love sharing ideas and information in the service of the common good and see Christianity as the servant of that good. Besides involving myself day by day in worship and the Dolphin Gym I provide spiritual direction sessions for a dozen or so folk helping them with their prayer and a weekly digital inclusion session helping older people gain safe access to the internet.
Besides annual visits to Barbados (https://sightsofbarbados.blogspot.com/), Anne and my recreation includes visiting family, days out to London (https://freelondonfromvictoria.blogspot.com/), Brighton (https://brightonhovesights.blogspot.com/) or the south coast (https://downsman.blogspot.com/) walking together, for her, sketching and painting (https://annespicturegallery.blogspot.com/) and, for me, playing the mandola, guitar or ukelele (https://stringedfriends.blogspot.com/).
I am an active member of Haywards Heath WUPS (Weald Ukulele Players & Singers) and serve on Haywards Heath Town Team heading up research about and celebration of our town (https://lifeinhaywardsheath.blogspot.com/). Anne and I are currently completing a joint autobiography
Fr John serves as a spiritual director helping people online or face to face to find the best way ahead through discerning God’s movement in their lives. He serves with the London Centre for Spiritual Direction accessible www.lcsd.org.uk where his entry reads: ‘Sympathetic to renewal and the Jesus Prayer I look to the prayer of the church through the ages. I serve as priest with Permission to Officiate in London, Brighton and Mid Sussex from Haywards Heath. Traditional Anglocatholic I write for Faith in Sussex, New Directions and Bible Reading Fellowship and present on Premier Christian Radio. I’m married and accept donations (£25 suggested). I meet directees in person and online’. To contact John directly use john@twisleton.co.uk.