James Tolhurst was born in Onslow Village, near Guildford in 1941.
His father was press liaison for General Eisenhower during the war. James worked in the City before studying for the priesthood in Spain.
Father James then spent fifteen years in South London parishes before returning to Spain as Spiritual Director. He obtained his doctorate in Theology in Salamanca.
He was Dean of Studies for the Permanent Diaconate in the Southern Dioceses for ten years.
After heart surgery Father Jim retired to Chislehurst.
He is the General Editor of the Newman Millenium Edition (Gracewing and Notre Dame) and author of several Gracewing titles including
Climbing the Mountain;
Come, Lord Jesus;
The Glory of These Forty Days;
Concise Catechism for Catholics;
Comfort in Sorrow;
A Newman Compendium for Sundays & Feastdays.
Though not assigned to Holy Innocents', being retired, Father Jim regularly says Masses for the parish and gives talks such as those about Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman.