Colin Fletcher (bishop)
Colin Fletcher | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Dorchester Acting Bishop of Oxford | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
| Installed | c. 2000 |
| Predecessor | Anthony Russell |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1976 |
| Consecration | October 2000 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 November 1950 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Sarah[1] |
| Children | 3 children |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
Colin Fletcher, OBE (born 17 November 1950) is the current area Bishop of Dorchester in the Diocese of Oxford.[2]
Early life and ministry
Fletcher was educated at Marlborough and Trinity College, Oxford.[3] After studying at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford he was ordained in 1976.[4] His ordained ministry began with a curacy at Shipley.[5]
Fletcher was then a tutor at Wycliffe Hall and after that Vicar of Holy Trinity in Margate[6] for eight years, before becoming chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury — a post he held for seven years. During his time as chaplain, he was co-chair of the Lambeth Group, which was set up to advise the British government on the "spiritual aspects of the millennium".[7]
Episcopal career
Fletcher was appointed to the episcopate in the 2000 Millennium Year, succeeding Anthony Russell on his appointment as Bishop of Ely. He was consecrated as a bishop in Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, in October 2000. Following the retirement of the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Richard Harries, Fletcher was Acting Bishop of Oxford until the appointment of the Rt Revd John Pritchard; in 2014 he became acting bishop again following Pritchard's retirement.[8]
Awards
Fletcher was awarded the OBE in the Millennium Honours List.
In 2008 he was awarded the Cross of St Augustine, the second highest international award for outstanding service to the Anglican Communion, by the Archbishop of Canterbury.[9]
Private life
A keen ornithologist,[10] Fletcher is married with three children.
Styles
- Colin Fletcher Esq (1950–1976)
- The Revd Colin Fletcher (1976–1988)
- The Revd Canon Colin Fletcher (1988–2000)
- The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher (2000–present)
References
- ^ 10 Downing Street — Suffragan See of Dorchester (National Archives)
- ^ Anglican Communion
- ^ Who's Who2008: London, A & C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
- ^ Church web-site (1)
- ^ Church web-site (2)
- ^ Biography of Bishop Colin from the Barnabas in Churches website
- ^ Diocese of Oxford – Bishop John lays down his staff (Accessed 1 November 2014)
- ^ See Lambeth citation list here.
- ^ Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9