Richard Bewes, son of famous missionary parents, was born and raised on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya, along with his two brothers and sister - "the most tranquil upbringing a child could have had," he says. Bewes went to England for his secondary education, before going to Cambridge University as an undergraduate. He then went on to study for the ordained ministry at Ridley Hall Theological College in Cambridge.

After leading two churches in southeast England with his wife, Liz, Bewes was appointed by the Crown as Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place, in London, following John Stott and Michael Baughen. Over the years as rector of All Souls, the international nature of the congregation (embracing some 70 nationalities) continued to develop with some 2,500 people coming through its doors every Sunday. During Bewes' rectorship, the facility to listen to sermons online was achieved, and a "virtual weekly global internet congregation" stands as one of the many legacies of his time in the post. He chaired the Church of England Evangelical Council throughout the 1990s. Stepping down from All Souls in November 2004, Bewes was awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.

A preacher, pastor, broadcaster, hymn-writer and Christian communicator, Bewes' speaking engagements have taken him into Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the United States and Canada. He has written more than twenty books, some of which have been translated into a number of languages. They include "The Lamb Wins," "Speaking in Public - Effectively," "The Top 100 Questions" and, most recently, "Beginning the Christian Life" and "150 Pocket Thoughts," all from Christian Focus Publications. He comes from a family whose Gospel preaching tradition began with a mission sermon by the great D.L. Moody on September 26, 1882, when Bewes' grandfather, then 14 years of age, made his commitment to Christ, and later became a preacher himself.

Bewes is co-host of the on-screen Bible Study series on books of the Bible, Book by Book, with Dr. Paul Blackham. Guests on these programs have included Anne Graham Lotz, George Verwer, Don Carson and Joni Eareckson Tada. Bewes has also co-hosted a series of on-screen programmes (again with Blackham) on Bible topics, entitled The Bible Truth Treasury (British viewers - Open Home Open Bible), which have been broadcast on Faith TV c/o Sky Angel. They also reach thousands of home groups.

With Africa and Christian Mission in his background, Bewes was for many years the chairman of the African Enterprise board in the United Kingdom and is also on the board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the UK. He was chairman of Billy Graham's "Mission '89" held in London. In 2004, he became the first international Board member of Gospel Communications International (GCI).

Sadly Bewes' wife, Liz, died in May 2006, following an illness. Two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren make up the family today.