Nicholas Baines

Nicholas 'Nick' Baines (13 November 1957, Liverpool— ) is the current Bishop of Croydon, a suffragan Anglican bishop in the Diocese of Southwark.

Baines was educated at Holt Comprehensive School, Liverpool, before gaining degrees at the University of Bradford and Trinity College, Bristol. He was ordained as a deacon in 1987 and as a Priest in 1988. His first appointments were at Assistant Curate at St. Thomas, Kendal, and St Catherine, Crook [”Crockford’s Clerical Directory 2008-9: London, Church House, 2007 ISBN 200095567X] . He then moved to Leicester, becoming Vicar of Rothley 1992-2000.

In 2000, Baines joined the Southwark Diocese as Archdeacon of Lambeth [“Who’s Who, 2007” London, AC Black, 2006 ISBN 200085002X] . He also oversaw the diocese's children and youth policy. He was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England from 1995 until 2005.

Baines is an experienced broadcaster, regularly appearing on "Pause for Thought" on BBC Radio 2. While in Leicester he used to broadcast regularly on BBC Radio Leicester and Leicester Sound, and twice received a commendation in the Andrew Cross Awards for religious broadcasting.

He has written four books: Hungry for Hope (1991, DLT, now out of print), Speedbumps & Potholes (2004, St Andrew Press), Jesus & People Like Us (2004, St Andrew Press), Marking Time (2005, St Andrew Press). Speedbumps & Potholes has been translated in German ("Am Rande bemerkt").

Baines was appointed Bishop of Croydon in 2003, replacing Wilfred Wood. He was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul's Cathedral and installed in Southwark Cathedral in May 2003 [http://www.southwark.anglican.org/bridge/0306/page10.htm Photographed with Rowan Williams]

In 1980, Baines married Linda. They have three children: Richard (1981), Melanie (1984), and Andrew (1988), who has Down's Syndrome.

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