Alison Mary White (née Dumbell; born 1956) is a British Anglican retired bishop. She served as the Bishop of Hull, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York, from 2015 to 2022. She was the second woman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England.
Alison White | |
---|---|
Bishop of Hull | |
Church | Church of England |
Diocese | Diocese of York |
In office | July 2015 to 2022 |
Predecessor | Richard Frith |
Successor | Eleanor Sanderson |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1986 (deaconess) 1987 (deacon) 1994 (priest) |
Consecration | 3 July 2015 by John Sentamu |
Personal details | |
Born | Alison Mary Dumbell 1956 (age 67–68) |
Nationality | British |
Denomination | Anglicanism |
Spouse | Frank White |
Alma mater | St Aidan's College, Durham University Leeds University Cranmer Hall, Durham |
Early life
editWhite was born in 1956.[1] Her father is Keith Dumbell (1922–2018), a virologist known for his work on smallpox.[2] She studied English at St Aidan's College, Durham University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978.[1][3] She later studied at the University of Leeds and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1994.[1]
Ordained ministry
editIn 1983, White entered Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college attached to St John's College, Durham. She became a deaconess in 1986. She was ordained deacon in 1987 and priest in 1994.[1] She was a non-stipendiary minister in Chester le Street from 1986 to 1989; the Diocese of Durham's Adviser in Local Mission from 1989 to 1993; Director of Pastoral Studies at Cranmer Hall from 1993 to 1998; Director of Ordinands from 1998 to 2000; its Springboard Missioner from 2000 to 2004; and Adult Education Officer for the Diocese of Peterborough from 2005 to 2010.
White was a canon of Peterborough Cathedral from 2009 to 2010. In that year she became the priest-in-charge of St James' Church, Riding Mill, Northumberland, and adviser to the Diocese of Newcastle for spirituality and spiritual direction.[4]
Episcopal ministry
editIn March 2015, it was announced that White was to become the next Bishop of Hull.[5][6] On 3 July 2015, she was consecrated as a bishop by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.[3] She was the second woman to become a bishop in the Church of England; Libby Lane was the first.[7] She was welcomed as Bishop of Hull on 6 July during a service at Holy Trinity Church, Hull.[8][9]
In September 2021, it was announced that White would be retiring as Bishop of Hull[10] effective 25 February 2022.[11]
Personal life
editIn 1982, the then Alison Mary Dumbell married Frank White.[12] He was also a priest and then bishop in the Church of England and ended his ecclesiastical career as the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle.[13] They are the first husband and wife both to be bishops.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Alison Mary White". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ "Hull, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Alison Mary White) (born 1956)". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ a b Kelly, Mike (3 July 2015). "Riding Mill's Rev Canon Alison White to become Bishop of Hull". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "New Bishop of Hull". News. The Diocese of York. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Hull: Reverend Canon Alison Mary White". Press Release. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "North-East priest becomes second woman bishop". The Northern Echo. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ a b "New female Bishop of Hull is welcomed into fold". ITV News. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Hull welcomes second woman bishop Alison White". BBC News. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Welcome Service for Bishop Alison". Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity Church, Hull. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ ""A shining presence in the church..." ~ Bishop of Hull to retire in February 2022". Diocese of York. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ "Prayer Diary, February 2022" (PDF). Diocese of York. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "HULL, Bishop Suffragan of". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ "White, Rt Rev. Francis, (Frank)". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 19 May 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)