I was born nearly 60 years ago in Solihull hospital (at that time in Warwickshire), to parents Catherine and Patrick Peyton (both from Co Mayo), the youngest of 4 children.
I was baptised at Sacred Heart and Holy Souls church, Acocks Green. I was later to receive First Confession, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and priestly ordination all in this church. I attended Holy Souls primary school until aged 11, and then went to a small independent school- Wylde Green College for boys in Sutton Coldfield, completing my secondary education at Solihull Sixth Form College. I studied chemistry at Birmingham University, completing a doctorate in 1989 which was funded by the “Cancer Research Campaign.”
I worked for more than 13 years in Research and Development for British Industrial Plastics (BIP Ltd), a company based in Oldbury. The firm produced resins for coatings and paper and textiles. My work was to try and make our products less environmentally damaging by using non-toxic raw materials. During my time at BIP, both my parents passed away (dad in 1991 and mum in 2001). After my mother’s death, I began to think more deeply about the priesthood. I had thought about it when I was much younger, and never really given up the idea. I now felt I was entering a new chapter of my life.
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When I was 9 years old, I joined the Junior Legion of Mary at Holy Souls. I seem to remember my brother saying that if I came to the Junior Legion with him, he would take me down Villa Park the next day. My brother has a lot to answer for! The Legion was to be, and still is, a major influence in my life.
When I was trying to discern whether God was calling me to the priesthood, I felt I needed to be clear that I wasn’t just interested in working as a priest because it had so often been suggested to me. It was also possible that I had a vocation to the Lay Apostolate- like the Legion’s founder the Servant of God Frank Duff. This was where the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that was being organised at St Dunstan’s at that time was an invaluable help to me. I had a place on the weekly rota- Wednesday evenings 9pm to 10pm was my slot. I would go and pour out my heart to the Lord, and I believe that he gradually guided me to submit myself to the Church, to allow the Church to discern my vocation.
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During those years, I was active in the Legion of Mary in St Paul’s Kings Norton. I was also in touch with Legion members in both St Dunstan’s and St Jude’s. So I believe that all these parishes were instrumental in bringing me to where I am today. Seminary formation took the form for me of 1 year in the Royal English College, Valladolid, Spain and 4 years at the Beda in Rome. I was ordained deacon at St Paul’s-outside-the-Walls basilica in Rome on June 15th., 2007 and priest in my home parish, Sacred Heart and Holy Souls, Acocks Green, on July 19th., 2008.
My first appointment as priest was as assistant priest in St Patrick’s Dudley Road, and chaplain to the City Hospital. In 2010, Archbishop Bernard asked me to become parish priest of St Thomas More’s, Sheldon. I spent 10 very happy if busy years there, even though it was the heart of Birmingham City territory!
In the middle of lock-down, September 2020, I moved to the Parishes of St John the Evangelist and St Joseph the Worker, Banbury. My stay in Oxfordshire was to be shorter, just 3 years.
As I outlined in my early homilies in St Dunstan’s and St Jude’s, I feel a passion in me to help people get to know God- a gift, I feel, from my involvement with the Legion of Mary. Inspired by my namesake, the now Venerable Patrick Peyton (the famous Rosary priest but no relation as far as I am aware), I am trying to promote family prayer. Fr Patrick Peyton’s famous slogan “the family that prayers together stays together” holds true- the family that prays together has a better chance of staying together in the family of the faith. I do passionately believe that if parish, school and home work together, the Gospel will spread.
My interest in Aston Villa is well known, but I also love pop music- the late 70’s and early 80’s being my favourite era. I once nearly took part in Ken Bruce’s Popmaster quiz, when it was still being broadcast on Radio 2. I was offered a date but I had to do a funeral at that particular time. They were to get back to me with an alternative, but this never happened. My chance of fame had gone.
Having said that, I had a special visitor at a confirmation in Banbury back in May. One of the confirmandi had a well-known Godfather, Prince William! He attended the Mass, at the start of which I announced that I was not the only Aston Villa fan present that evening.
After Mass, His Royal Highness approached me along with the other clergy. “So who’s the Villa fan then?” he asked. “Guilty as charged, Your Royal Highness,” I answered. “Do you get down there much?” “About 6 times a season, sir” was my reply. There is a rumour that the reason why I was moved somewhat unexpectedly back to Birmingham from Banbury is that Prince William suggested to Archbishop Bernard to move me closer to Villa Park!
St Dunstan’s and St Jude’s are busy parishes, but I am thrilled to be here. I am very well assisted by Fr Toby, who is truly a great help. I am indebted to Fr Philip and his various assistants for the sterling work they did here over the past 10 years, as indeed I am to Fr Christopher Fitzpatrick, who used to adore the Blessed Sacrament with me on Wednesday evenings. Of course, my real boss is my dog Dougal, better known as Fr Dougal.
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Reverend Fr. (Dr.) P Prem J Fernando
I come to serve the parish St Dunstan & St Jude, Kings Heath, still as a ‘foreign & overseas migrant priest’, completing 35 years as a priest and serving the Archdiocese of Birmingham since 2002 for the past 23 years. I thank Fr John Peyton the Parish Priest and the parish for accepting me with a warm welcome, making a priest’s home for me providing all that is needed (Canons 222 §1, 281§1,§2), the wherewithal to the best, enabling me to fulfil my priestly ministry with all I have, and so be flourished as a person too. Thank you.
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Yes, I migrated from Sri Lanka having been trained and ordained and then serving there as a priest /teacher / principal for ten years in two leading Catholic schools in Colombo; St Joseph’s and St Peter’s. I entered the minor seminary when I was 12 years old and so I am a fully-fledged product of the seminary system. I am immensely grateful to all those who nurtured and nourished my journey in the minor seminary and the major seminary in Sri Lanka.
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My father served at the then Royal Ceylon Air Force having been trained as an Aeronautical Engineer with two full scholarships here in UK at two different times. He faithfully served the country as an airman during the insurgency in Sir Lanka in 1971 and was honoured for his services. He retired later when it became the Sri Lankan Air Force. I tend to think I carry a brave soldier’s blood! My mother a self-made home teacher that taught many children from disadvantageous backgrounds at our own home. So much so, all my life I was known as the teacher’s son, and the memory was a house full of children and my mother teaching them, besides all the lovely food she made for us. She was a fantastic cook. I came from a very hospitable family that welcomed people from all backgrounds, always caring and valuing each and every one of them. I can only be thankful to God now for such upbringing.
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I arrived in UK in 2000 to read for my DPhil in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligent Systems at University of Cambridge. My studies were partly funded by the Bishop’s Conference in Sri Lanka and by personal and family funds. I am grateful to the Archdiocese of Birmingham for accepting me to serve here in the diocese during my final years of study supporting me. Having completed my studies, I was offered the opportunity to serve as the Chaplain to University of Warwick here in the archdiocese, where I served for seven years, from 2004 -20011. After a short sabbatical in English College Rome, I was appointed as the Chaplain to University of Oxford Brookes where I served from 2012 – 2024 (12 years). Together with the responsibilities for the chaplaincy I was also then appointed as the Parish Priest to St Thomas More Kidlington and St Hugh of Lincoln, Woodstock from 2013 – 2025.
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I obtained my DPhil in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence Systems from the Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge in 2004. Besides my long priestly training from a very young age and then obtaining the Baccalaureate in Philosophy (BPh) and with a Magna Cum Laude the Baccalaureate in Theology (BTh) from the Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome, I went on to specialising as a priest, in Mathematics and Computing, fulfilling a childhood dream. I am very grateful to the then Archbishop in Sri Lanka Most Revered Nicholas Marcus Fernando, who ordained me together with Cardinal Tomko from Rome, for having such confidence in me and giving me this opportunity. I did him proud I believe obtaining the Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc.Hons.) in Mathematics and Computing from University College London, and a Master of Science (MSc) in Industrial Mathematics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. I also completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Education in Sri Lanka. And then with His Grace’s blessing I came to UK for my further study enrolling for the DPhil in Cambridge. (I attach a photo of my Wall of Fame!, of course not a hall!, couldn’t be)
Photo 2 – The Wall of Fame
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​I come to your parish with over thirty-five years of wider university experience across countries and cultures, of which a good twenty years of experience as a chaplain and 12 years as a Parish Priest here in UK. My many research interests include areas such as ‘Machine Learning – Learning Techniques that mimic human brain’, ‘shape recognition in manifold high dimensional mappings’, ‘Discussion of faith and reason, science and religion in a secular setting’, ‘Religion in the public sphere as a moral compass’ and many more. Besides my academic career and research interests, I am also interested in music, art, theatre and sports. Oh well, I would be ready for a good challenge in table tennis!
My goal in life – in this last spell, to be a living witness to the challenges migrants; especially Africans and Asians themselves face, and their struggle to belong, be recognised, valued and be empowered. I hope to survive!
You do not have to profess my faith or share my interests to say hi! So do drop by just when you feel or need like wanting to have a chat or just be curious! I would be ready to welcome you. Just drop me a line: email, a note, a message or speak to me after a mass.
The photo of myself, Photo 1 - Photo taken at a friend’s Investiture in Lincoln's Inn Hall London, having St Thomas More's relique at the background.
Born in Birmingham, Deacon David worked for 38 years with Birmingham City Council, specialising in housing and estate management; he took early retirement in 2014. Deacon David and his wife Catherine were married in 1986, and they were both received into the Catholic Church, at St. Dunstan’s, in 1994. After four years of formation in the parish and at Oscott College, Deacon David was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in 2013. A Deacon (from the Greek word diakonos, meaning servant) is a sacramental sign of Christ the servant, and is called to be a faithful servant of the Word, of liturgy, and of charity.