Chapel: People
Huffington's Chaplain
As the College Chaplain, Justin White oversees the provision of services and the conduct of divine worship in the College Chapel and provides pastoral care for the entire College community in conjunction with the Welfare Team.
Email: Justin White
Telephone: 01865 276365
Biography
Justin grew up in the Arabian Gulf and the Isle of Man before arriving in Oxford to read Engineering at Keble College. A Masters in International Studies at Warwick University was followed by a career in Management Consultancy with Price Waterhouse. He read Theology at Trinity College Cambridge while training for ministry at Westcott House. A curacy at St Andrew’s Chippenham was followed by chaplaincies at the School of St Helen and St Katharine Abingdon, Dulwich College and, for 12 years, at Winchester College where he served as Dean of Chapel, Head of Theology and Philosophy, and Teacher of Physics. Justin was for a short time Canon Precentor of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Most recently, he has been the Senior Provost of the Woodard Corporation. Appointed a Priest Vicar of Westminster Abbey in 2015, Justin has also been a Wiccamical Canon of Chichester Cathedral since 2024.
Associate Chaplain and Career Development Researcher
As Associate Chaplain, Lyndon Webb has a particular responsibility for pastoral care within the Chapel community alongside his doctoral work looking at queer ecology in the Song of Songs. In term time, Lyndon also runs a weekly theological discussion group and book group, and is teaching College Members to garden at the Merton veg patch.
Email: Lyndon Webb
Telephone: 01865 276297
Biography
Originally a modern linguist, prior to training Lyndon spent four years living in intentional communities in Dorset with a particular focus on ecology, conservation and the relationship between gardening and mental health for those in recovery from addictive behaviours. Lyndon subsequently trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon, where he completed a BA in Theology and MSt in Modern Doctrine at Oxford, before returning to Dorset to serve his curacy in the parish of St John’s Church, Broadstone. Alongside his pastoral and liturgical role at Merton, Lyndon will also be working on a PhD in ecology, queer theology and the Song of Songs in conjunction with Sarum College, Salisbury and Winchester University.
Reed Rubin Organist & Director of College Music
Benjamin Nicholas is responsible for all the music in Chapel, directing and training the College Choir and the Choristers. Ben is also a College Lecturer in Music teaching undergraduates in all year groups. As Director of College Music, Ben encourages music-making across the College.
Email: Benjamin Nicholas
Biography
Benjamin Nicholas was born in Norwich and was a chorister at Norwich Cathedral before holding the organ scholarships at Chichester Cathedral; Lincoln College, Oxford; and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Currently Reed Rubin Organist and Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford, he has toured extensively with Merton College Choir in the USA, Europe and the Far East. In December 2025, he directed the choir on its first tour of Japan. In September 2016, he helped found the College’s Girls’ Choir, enabling some thirty school-age singers to receive their musical training at Merton.
Winner of the BBC Music Magazine Choral Award in 2020, he has made over 40 recordings on the Delphian, Signum and Priory labels, including discs of music by Weelkes, Mozart, Stainer, Stanford, Rubbra, Allain, Chilcott, Rutter and Gabriel Jackson. Of the second Volume of Orchestral Anthems, recorded with the Britten Sinfonia, BBC Music Magazine wrote, “Nicholas evidently has the church music of the Anglican tradition in his DNA”. The choir’s two most recent recordings have been ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine.
Appointed Music Director of the Oxford Bach Choir in 2018, his recent concerts include Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius and Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philharmonia and Elgar’s The Apostles with the Philharmonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As a guest conductor, he has worked with the BBC Singers, the Holst Singers, the City of London Sinfonia, Novus NY and the Trondheim Soloists.
He was Director of the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy for four years and was the founding Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. As an organist, he has recently given solo recitals in the Frauenkirche, Munich, St Paul’s Cathedral and King’s College, Cambridge. In the 2025-2026 season, he conducted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Oxford Bach Choir in a performance of Elgar’s The Kingdom, and the Britten Sinfonia in a concert to mark Arvo Pärt’s 90th Birthday.
Chapel Office and Choir Manager
Lizzie Casey manages the Choral Foundation and is responsible for the management of both the Choir of Merton College and the Merton College Girl Choristers. Lizzie also manages the Chapel Office.
Email: Lizzie Casey
Verger
Verger: Jen Crompton is responsible for the daily running and upkeep of the Chapel. They help with the organisation and setting up of services, as well as overseeing concerts and outside events.
Assistant Organist
François Cloete
François is the Chapel's Assistant Organist, responsible for playing services and accompanying the choir.
Email: François Cloete
Biography
François began his organ studies on Guernsey with Stephen Le Prevost (Abbey Assistant Organist 1991-2001) before receiving an MDS bursary to attend Wells Cathedral School. He became a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists aged 19 and subsequently read Music at Merton College, Oxford, graduating with a Congratulatory First and highest marks in his cohort. As Merton's Organ Scholar he played for five services a week, international tours, and two Radio 3 broadcasts. François returns to Merton after a year as Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey from 2025-2026, during which time he completed his MMus in Musicology at King’s College, London, having received the graduate research award from the Society for Music Analysis. François has also held posts at Wells and Hereford Cathedrals.
Chapel Officers
A number of students assist with the running of the Chapel. They welcome people to services and give out books, light candles, read, serve at the Eucharist, and are also represented on the College’s Chapel & Patronage Committee. Some students also act as Livestreaming technicians.