Colin Fletcher (bishop)

The Right Reverend
Colin Fletcher
OBE
Bishop of Dorchester
Diocese Diocese of Oxford
In office 2000–present
Predecessor Anthony Russell
Other posts Chaplain to George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (1993–2000)
Acting Bishop of Oxford (2006–2007 & 2014–2016)
Orders
Ordination 1975 (deacon); 1976 (priest)
by Ross Hook
Consecration 4 October 2000
by George Carey
Personal details
Born (1950-11-17) 17 November 1950
Nationality British
Denomination Anglican
Spouse (m. 1980)
Children three[1]
Alma mater Trinity College, Oxford

Colin William Fletcher, OBE (born 17 November 1950) is a British Anglican bishop. He 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 into the Church of England:[4] he was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1975 (20 September), in Bradford Cathedral[5] and ordained a priest the following Michaelmas (19 September 1976), at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton; both times by Ross Hook, Bishop of Bradford.[6] His ordained ministry began with a curacy at Shipley.[7]

Fletcher was then a tutor at Wycliffe Hall and after that Vicar of Holy Trinity in Margate[8] for eight years, before becoming chaplain to George Carey, 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".[9]

Episcopal career

Fletcher was appointed to the episcopate in 2000, succeeding Anthony Russell on his appointment as Bishop of Ely. He was consecrated as a bishop in Westminster Abbey by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 4 October 2000 (St Francis of Assisi's day).[10] Following the retirement of Richard Harries as Bishop of Oxford, Fletcher was Acting Bishop of Oxford until the appointment of John Pritchard (2 June 2006 – 23 March 2007); in 2014 he became acting bishop again following Pritchard's retirement (31 October 2014 – September 2016).[11]

Awards

Fletcher was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire 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 Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.[12]

Private life

A keen ornithologist,[13] Fletcher married in 1980 and has three children.

Styles

References

  1. ↑ 10 Downing Street — Suffragan See of Dorchester (National Archives)
  2. ↑ Anglican Communion
  3. ↑ Fletcher, Colin William. ukwhoswho.com. Who's Who. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Colin William Fletcher". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "September ordinations (Archived; subscription only)". Church Times (#5876). 26 September 1975. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 13 July 2017. (Subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ "September ordinations (Archived; subscription only)". Church Times (#5928). 24 September 1976. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 13 July 2017. (Subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ Church web-site (1)
  8. ↑ Church web-site (2)
  9. ↑ Biography of Bishop Colin from the Barnabas in Churches website Archived 2011-09-05 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ The Door (Diocese of Oxford newspaper), November 2000 — Welcome to the Family (Archived at archive.org, 12 December 2000; accessed 13 July 2017)
  11. ↑ Diocese of Oxford – Bishop John lays down his staff (Accessed 1 November 2014)
  12. ↑ See Lambeth citation list here.
  13. ↑ Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Anthony Russell		 Bishop of Dorchester
2000–present		 Incumbent
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