The Reverend Tom Mumford

Tom left school at 17 and joined the Royal Air Force before sustaining an injury that led him to quickly return to civilian life. Following this, Tom worked in legal administration at a local law firm, became a Special Constable for Lincolnshire Police, and was elected at the age of 21 to his local council, thought to be the youngest in the country at that time. During this period Tom decided to explore the possibilities of higher education and, following a part-time course at his local college, at the age of 22 became the first of his family to go to university, studying Politics at the University of York. It was during his time at York that Tom first explored Christianity and quickly discovered a sense of vocation to ordination.

Following graduation from York, Tom moved to London and worked for a year in a parish church. It was here that his sense of vocation was tested by the wider church and after a year he moved to Cambridge to study and train for ordination. Tom read Theology and Religious Studies at Peterhouse in the University of Cambridge and subsequently was ordained in 2019, serving his title in the parish of Sudbury, a market town in rural Suffolk. In October 2021 Tom was appointed Vicar of the town and civic church of Ipswich, St Mary le Tower, which in 2025 was re-designated as Ipswich Minster. Tom is also the Diocesan Interfaith Advisor and holds other roles both locally and nationally. He is also currently undertaking a part-time doctorate in theology. Tom is a huge football fan, supporting Newcastle United since a boy, but since moving to Ipswich now also following the blues and holding a season ticket at Ipswich town.