The Reverend Ben Cahill-Nicholls

About Ben

Ben has served as Chief Executive of Clergy Support Trust, the largest and oldest charity supporting Anglican clergy and their families, since 2020. Under his leadership, the charity has quadrupled its grant-giving, established new research, training and engagement initiatives, and advocated strongly for those it is privileged to help.

After studying Music at Cambridge University, Ben began his career in the civil service, and was an adviser to both the Laming Report and the House of Commons Education Committee. He subsequently held senior posts in the education sector, including at Newham College and Charterhouse School, and in corporate philanthropy.

Following three years’ formation at St Augustine’s College, Ben was ordained in 2021. He served a self-supporting curacy alongside his ministry at the Trust, before moving to his current post as house-for-duty priest in Tilford, a growing, rural parish in the Diocese of Guildford. He is a Fellow of the Westminster Abbey Institute, and currently participating in the global leadership programme run from Trinity Church, New York.

Ben is also a composer and lyricist, currently working on several projects including a 1930s murder mystery musical called The Actress & The Bishop. He was a finalist in the 2025 Stiles & Drewe Prize, and is represented by Kara Fitzpatrick at Casarotto Ramsay. Ben lives with his wife, two young children and growing menagerie of cats, fish and tortoise.

Ben's recent interview on Premier Radio

As our spokesperson

A considerable part of Ben's role as Chief Executive involves convening and contributing to conversations with key figures and decision makers, seeking to bring about positive changes to pay and conditions, and to improve the wellbeing of all those living in clergy households.

In February 2025, following an engagement programme, advocacy and sharing our data and findings, the Church of England pledged a £2m grant to the Trust, towards our work supporting their clergy.

Ben also makes regular appearances in the media, most recently in an interview with Premier Christian Radio, and similarly in print with Church Times, where he raised our concerns that 1 in 5 serving clergy relied on the help of a charity to get by. Ben also regularly speaks at clergy conferences, and preaches at special services.