Rev. Mark Edwards MBE is a parish priest in the Diocese of Newcastle, married with four children and two grandchildren. His early life was challenging-after his parents divorced and his mother struggled with mental health, Mark and his brother spent much of their childhood in local authority care and a children's home in Lincolnshire. he battled depression, anxiety, and addiction, experiencing homelessness and multiple suicide attempts before finding faith in a local church. That turning point transformed his life, leading him to ordination in the Church of England in 1995.In 2010, Mark was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours, receiving the medal from HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. He has also served as a lifeboat crew member, Police Chaplain to Northumbria Police, a volunteer ambulance first responder, and a Special Constable.