Richard Charles Jackson (born 22 January 1961) is a British Anglican bishop.[1] He is the current Bishop of Hereford and Clerk of the Closet in the Church of England and a former Bishop suffragan of Lewes.[2]
Richard Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Hereford | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Hereford |
| In office | 2020 to present |
| Predecessor | Richard Frith |
| Other post(s) | Clerk of the Closet (2023–present) Bishop suffragan of Lewes (Chichester, 2014–2020) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1994 (deacon); 1995 (priest) |
| Consecration | 14 May 2014 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Charles Jackson 22 January 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | |
| Member of the House of Lords (Lord Spiritual) | |
| Assumed office 15 November 2023 | |
Early life and education
editJackson was born on 22 January 1961.[3] He studied at Latymer Upper School, then at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1983.[4] He studied at the Cranfield Institute of Technology, completing a Master of Science (MSc) degree in 1985.[4] In 1992, he matriculated into Trinity College, Bristol, an Evangelical Anglican theological college: he spent the next two years studying theology and training for ordained ministry.[4]
Ordained ministry
editJackson was ordained into the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1994 (2 July), by Eric Kemp, Bishop of Chichester, at Chichester Cathedral;[5] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (2 July 1995), by Lindsay Urwin, Bishop of Horsham, at St Mary's, Horsham.[6] After a curacy in Lindfield he was Vicar of Rudgwick from 1998 until 2009 (also Rural Dean of Horsham from 2005) when he became the Diocese of Chichester's Advisor for Mission and Renewal.[7]
Episcopal ministry
editJackson was consecrated as a bishop on 14 May 2014[8] at Westminster Abbey by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.[9] From then, he served as Bishop of Lewes, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chichester.[10] It was announced on 3 September 2019 that Jackson was to become the next Bishop of Hereford;[11] he was elected to that See on 6 December 2019 and his election confirmed 7 January 2020.[12] As Bishop of Hereford, he took part in the 2023 Coronation as one of the two Bishops Assistant to Queen Camilla.[13]
On 15 November 2023, Jackson was appointed Clerk of the Closet, head of the College of Chaplains of the Ecclesiastical Household of the Sovereign.[14]
Views
editJackson is evangelical and charismatic in churchmanship.[15]
In January 2023, Jackson stated that he commended the proposed introduction of blessings for same-sex couples by the Church of England, and extended an apology to people who identify as LGBTQI+ for hurtful experiences in the church; "I know I bear some responsibility in this, and I am sorry for the hurt this has caused.".[16] He later stated: "I did vote for the original motion [...] because I have no doubt about the many goods that we all see in committed, exclusive same-sex relationships and consider it right that these are affirmed."[17] However, he also signed an open letter in response to the proposal which stated:[18]
many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.[18]
References
edit- ^ Anglican Communion
- ^ "Bishop of Lewes". Who's Who. Diocese of Chichester. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Jackson, Richard Charles". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b c "Richard Charles Jackson". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ "Petertide Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6856. 8 July 1994. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Petertide Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6909. 14 July 1995. p. 12. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Lewes: Richard Charles Jackson". News. GOV.UK. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ ""Well liked and easy to relate to"". 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Bishop of Lewes ordained by Archbishop of Canterbury". BBC News. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Bishop of Lewes". Diocese of Chichester. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "Diocese of Hereford - News - New Bishop of Hereford Announced". www.hereford.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020.
- ^ "Diocese of Hereford - News - New Bishop of Hereford service of confirmation". www.hereford.anglican.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "Court Circular: November 15, 2023". The Times. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Speaker - Bishop Richard Jackson". Crowhurst Christian Healing Centre. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Bishop Richard: statement on Living in Love and Faith". Diocese of Hereford. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Jackson, Richard (14 December 2023). "Pastoral Letter to all Clergy and Readers" (pdf). Thinking Anglicans. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ a b "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.