Father Heyst was a plump, elderly man who was the Intercessor at Jordan College. It was his job to lead all the College services, to preach and pray and hear confessions. When Lyra Silvertongue lived at the college, he tried to take an interest in her spiritual welfare, but eventually labelled her as "not spiritually promising." He caught her and Roger Parslow sneaking out of the oratory and crypts beneath the college, and during his conversation with Lyra, tried to express his concern for her lack of female friends.