- Christopher Cocksworth
-
The Rt Revd
Dr Christopher Cocksworth
BA PhD HonDD PGCE[1][2]Bishop of Coventry Church Church of England Diocese Diocese of Coventry Enthroned 1 November 2008 Predecessor The Rt Revd Colin Bennetts Other posts Principal, Ridley Hall, Cambridge (2001–2008) Orders Ordination 1984 Consecration 3 July 2008 Personal details Born 12 January 1959 Nationality British Denomination Anglican Residence The Bishop's House, Coventry Spouse Charlotte Children 5 sons: Tim, Ash, Sam, Seb & Matt Profession formerly theologian & teacher Alma mater University of Manchester Christopher John Cocksworth (born 12 January 1959) is a Church of England cleric in the open evangelical tradition. He is the current (9th) Bishop of Coventry. He is the youngest serving diocesan bishop in the Church of England. He was consecrated as bishop in Southwark Cathedral, London on 3 July 2008 and was enthroned on 1 November 2008. Prior to becoming bishop he was the Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He is the son-in-law of the Rt Revd David Pytches, former diocesan Bishop of Chile, Bolivia & Peru.
Contents
Career
He was brought up in Horsham and attended the University of Manchester where he earned a first class degree in Theology and later was awarded a PhD under the supervision of Richard Bauckham. Having trained for the ministry at St John's College, Nottingham, he began his vocation in the priesthood as a curate at Epsom Common Christ Church in the Diocese of Guildford in 1988.[3] In 1992, he moved to become Chaplain of Royal Holloway, University of London until 1997. He then became Director of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme; a post he relinquished in 2001. He was made an Honorary Canon of Guildford Cathedral in 1999. He was later the Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge.[4] His nomination for the appointment of Bishop of Coventry on the retirement of the Rt Revd Colin Bennetts was announced on 3 March 2008.[1][5] He was formally elected by the cathedral chapter in May 2008, following the issue of a Congé d'Elire by the Queen on 6 May 2008.[6] He was consecrated as a bishop on 3 July 2008 in Southwark Cathedral,[7] and was enthroned on 1 November 2008.[8][9] He is the youngest serving diocesan bishop.[5]
He was a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission from 1999 to 2006, and was involved in revising the ordination services and the Common Worship Daily Prayer compilation.
He is married to Charlotte, and they have five sons - Tim, Ashley, Sam, Seb and Matt.
On 15 July 2009 The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa, of the University of London. The award was conferred by Royal Holloway, University of London, at a ceremony held in the College’s chapel. The University of London awards Honorary Degrees to those of conspicuous merit, outstanding in their field, or those who have given exceptional service to the University. Dr Cocksworth was honoured for his services to Education – particularly Higher Education – and to the Church, and also for his service to Royal Holloway.[10]
Publications
Cocksworth has written widely on theological matters, with some of his books including Renewing Daily Prayer: An Introduction to Celebrating Common Prayer (1992); Evangelical Eucharistic Thought in the Church of England (1993); An Anglican Companion, with Alan Wilkinson (1996); Holy, Holy, Holy, Worshipping the Trinitarian God (1997); Prayer and the Departed (1997); Common Worship: An Introduction (2001); Wisdom: The Spirit's Gift (2003); Being a Priest Today: Exploring Priestly Identity, with Rosalind Brown (2002, 2nd ed. 2006); Holding Together: Gospel, Church and Spirit (2008), nominated for the 2011 Michael Ramsey Book Prize. [11]
Styles
- Christopher Cocksworth Esq (1959–1988)
- The Revd Christopher Cocksworth (1988–1989)
- The Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth (1989–1999)
- The Revd Canon Dr Christopher Cocksworth (1999–2008)
- The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth (2008—)
References
- ^ a b Number 10 — Diocese of Coventry
- ^ Coventry Telegraph — Meet the next Bishop of Coventry
- ^ Who’s Who 2008 (London, A & C Black, 2008) ISBN 9780713672576
- ^ Crockfords on-line accessed 24 March 2008
- ^ a b Diocese of Coventry's Press Release regarding Dr Cocksworth's appointment
- ^ London Gazette: no. 58694. p. 7105. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ Start the Week—Consecration of the new Bishop of Coventry, Coventry Cathedral newsletter, 27 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30
- ^ "The New Bishop Of Coventry". Diocese of Coventry. http://www.coventrydiocese.org/home/bishopswelcome/. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ "Welcome to the new Bishop of Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. 2008-11-03. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2008/11/03/welcome-to-the-new-bishop-of-coventry-92746-22173759. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ "Bishop to receive prestigious honour". Diocese of Coventry. 13 July 2009. http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/1/item/669. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ^ Search results for Christopher J. Cocksworth at Worldcat. Retrieved 2008-08-07
Church of England titles Preceded by
Colin BennettsBishop of Coventry
2008—Incumbent Bishops of Coventry Suffragan Henry Bowlby • Edmund Knox
Diocesan Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs • Charles Carre • Mervyn Haigh • Neville Gorton • Cuthbert Bardsley • John Gibbs • Simon Barrington-Ward • Colin Bennetts • Christopher Cocksworth
Categories:- 1959 births
- Living people
- Alumni of the University of Manchester
- Bishops of Coventry
- Alumni of St John's College, Nottingham
- Alumni of Ridley Hall, Cambridge
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