- Peter R. Forster
Peter Robert Forster (born
16 March 1950 ) is a BritishAnglican clergy and the currentBishop of Chester .Born in
Solihull , the son of Thomas and Edna (nee Russell) Forster was educated at the town'sTudor Grange Grammar School for Boys, andMerton College, Oxford , where he received a Master of Arts inchemistry in 1973. At theEdinburgh University , Forster graduated with aBachelor of Divinity intheology in 1977 and became aDoctor of Philosophy in 1985.From 1980 to 1982, Forster was assistant curate of the
Mossley Hill Parish Church inLiverpool . He was senior tutor atSt John's College, Durham between 1983 and 1991, and became vicar ofBeverley Minster in the following. In 1996, he was appointed 40th Bishop of Chester and became aLord Spiritual at theHouse of Lords in 2001. [cite web | url= http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/minutes/011114/ldminute.htm| title= Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords| author= House of Lords| date=2001-11-14 | work= minutes of proceedings| accessdate= 2006-11-20]Forster has been married to Married Elisabeth Anne Stevenson since 1978; they have two sons and two daughters.
In 2003, Forster raised controversy when he was investigated by police for an alleged "hate speech" after suggesting homosexuals should seek psychiatric treatment. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/10/nbish10.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/11/10/ixportal.html] No charges were made [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3255461.stm] and the police were satisfied that no offence had been committed.
He was one of the 'rebel' bishops who signed a letter against Rowan Williams' appointment of the Reverend Dr
Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading in 2003. The others were the Bishops of Bradford, Carlisle, Chichester, Exeter, Liverpool, Rochester, Southwell and Winchester.References
*cite web | url= http://www.dodonline.co.uk/engine.asp?lev1=4&lev2=38&menu=81&biog=y&id=26690| title= DodOnline| accessdate= 2006-11-20
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