Richard Paul Davies (born 15 March 1973) is a British Anglican bishop. Since September 2023, he has been Bishop of Dorking in the Church of England's Diocese of Guildford. He was Archdeacon of Bangor from 2012 to 2017 and then Archdeacon of Surrey from 2017 until becoming a bishop.[1]
Paul Davies | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Dorking | |
.jpg) Bishop Davies at his Consecration in September, 2023 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Guildford |
| In office | September 2023 to present |
| Predecessor | Jo Bailey Wells |
| Other post(s) | Archdeacon of Surrey (2017–2023) Archdeacon of Bangor (2012–2017) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1997 (deacon) 1998 (priest) by Huw Jones |
| Consecration | 29 September 2023 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 March 1973 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | |
Early life and education
editDavies was born on 15 March 1973 in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Wales.[2] He was educated at the Pembroke School, Pembrokeshire.[2] He studied theology at the University of Wales, Lampeter, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1994.[2] From 1994 to 1997, he trained for ordination at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college.[3] He also studied theology at Regent's Park College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master of Theology (MTh) degree.[2]
Ordained ministry
editDavies was ordained in St Davids Cathedral for the Church in Wales as a deacon in 1997 and as a priest in 1998.[4][5] He served his curacy as a minor canon at St Davids Cathedral in the Diocese of St Davids between 1997 and 2001.[3] From 2001 to 2006, he continued his ministry at the cathedral as its succentor and was also team vicar of Solva and Brawdy, village churches that fell within the cathedral's parish.[3][6] He was additionally Diocesan Ecumenical Officer from 2002 to 2006.[3] In 2005, he became an officiating chaplain to the forces (OCF), a civilian who volunteers as a military chaplain.[3] He was OCF to the 14th Signal Regiment, British Army, until 2007.[2] In 2006, leaving the cathedral parish, he became vicar of Burry Port with Pwll.[6] He was additionally diocesan director of ordinands from 2010 to 2012.[2][3]
In October 2011, he was appointed Archdeacon of Bangor and Anglesey in the Diocese of Bangor.[7] He was collated and installed as Archdeacon of Bangor and Anglesey at Bangor Cathedral on 19 February 2012.[8] At the time of his installation (aged 38), Davies was the youngest archdeacon in Wales and England.[9] He was additionally rector Llanfairmathafarneithaf with Llanbedrgoch and Pentraeth from 2012 to 2014.[2] He was officiating chaplain to RAF Valley on Anglesey from 2015 to 2017.[2]
In October 2017, Davies was announced as the next Archdeacon of Surrey, in the Church of England's Diocese of Guildford. He was collated as archdeacon on 10 December 2017.[10]
Episcopal ministry
editOn 26 July 2023, it was announced that he would be the next Bishop of Dorking, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Guildford.[6] On 29 September 2023, he was consecrated as a bishop by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at Westminster Abbey.[11][12] He was welcomed as the sixth Bishop of Dorking on 8 October during a service at Guildford Cathedral.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Church In Wales Press Release: New Archdeacon of Bangor". Churchinwales.org.uk. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Davies, Ven. (Richard) Paul, (born 15 March 1973), Archdeacon of Surrey, since 2017". Who's Who 2023. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Richard Paul Davies". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Crockford's clerical directory, 1997" (Lambeth, Church House ISBN 0-7151-8088-6)
- ^ "Next Bishop of Dorking announced". The Church of England. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Dorking: 26 July 2023". GOV.UK. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "The Reverend Paul Davies named Archdeacon of Bangor". BBC News. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "The Diocese of Bangor - Who's Who - The Archdeacon of Bangor". Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "Local Press Release: Service to bid vicar farewell". thisissouthwales.co.uk. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ "A new archdeacon for Surrey". Diocese of Guildford. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Eucharist with Ordination and Consecration". Westminster Abbey. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Consecration of Bishops takes place at Westminster Abbey". Westminster Abbey. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ "Sixth Bishop of Dorking announced". Diocese of Guildford. 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.