Robert James "Rob" Wickham (born 3 May 1972) is a British Anglican bishop. He has been CEO of the Church Urban Fund since June 2023,[1] having previously served as Bishop of Edmonton (an area bishop in the Diocese of London) 2015–2023. He also served part-time as Acting Bishop of Portsmouth.[2]
Rob Wickham | |
|---|---|
| area Bishop of Edmonton | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| In office | 23 September 2015 – 9 July 2023 |
| Predecessor | Peter Wheatley |
| Other post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1998 (deacon) 1999 (priest) |
| Consecration | 23 September 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert James Wickham 3 May 1972 |
| Education | Hampton School |
| Alma mater | Grey College, Durham King's College London |
Early life and education
editWickham was born on 3 May 1972.[3][4] He was educated at Hampton School, an all-boys private school in Hampton, London. After a gap year, he studied geography at Grey College, Durham.[5] He graduated from the University of Durham with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1994.[4] He then spent a year working at St Luke's Church, Wallsend, an Anglo-Catholic church in a deprived area of North Tyneside.[5] In 1995, he entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, a Church of England theological college, where he spent three years studying for ordination to the priesthood.[4]
During his ordained ministry, he undertook post-graduate study. In 2012, he completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in theology, politics and faith-based organisations at King's College London.[4][5]
Ordained ministry
editWickham was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1998 and as a priest in 1999.[4] From 1998 to 2001, he continued his training for ministry as a curate at St Mary's Church, Willesden in the Diocese of London; the church contains the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden.[4][5] In 2001, he moved to St Mary's Church, Somers Town where he served as a curate for the next two years.[6][7] In 2003, he became the Team Vicar in the newly created Parish of Old St Pancras which includes St Pancras Old Church.[4][5] In 2007, he moved parishes and became Rector of the Church of St John-at-Hackney;[4] this made him the 45th Rector of Hackney.[8] In 2014, he was additionally appointed the Area Dean of Hackney.[4]
Episcopal ministry
editIn July 2015, Wickham was announced as the next Bishop of Edmonton, an area bishop in the Diocese of London.[6][9] On 23 September 2015, he was consecrated a bishop in Canterbury Cathedral by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.[10] It was announced on 26 February 2021 that he was to additionally serve part-time as Acting Bishop of Portsmouth (archbishop's commissary) during the vacancy of that See, starting 28 April 2021.[2] On 18 January 2022, the new Bishop of Portsmouth, Jonathan Frost, took up the See.[11]
On 21 February 2023, it was announced that Wickham was to become CEO of Church Urban Fund.[12] He resigned his See effective 9 July 2023.[13] He has also been an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of London since November 2023.[14]
Personal life
editWickham is married to Helen, a primary school teacher.[6] Together, they have three children.[8] He is a supporter of Plymouth Argyle football club.[6]
References
edit- ^ Communications (21 February 2023). "Bishop Rob appointed next CEO of Church Urban Fund". Diocese of London. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - New 'commissary bishop' will help to lead diocese".
- ^ "Wickham, Robert James". 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 d e f g h i "Robert James Wickham". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Order of Service: Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton" (PDF). Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Suffragan Bishop of Edmonton: Robert Wickham". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "EDMONTON, Area Bishop of". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Who's Who". St John at Hackney Church. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Two new bishops and new archdeacon for London announced". Diocese of London. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
- ^ "Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton". Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- ^ "Acting Dean of York announced". York Minster. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022. & "Services beginning Sunday 16 January 2022 (image)". St Mary le Bow Church, London. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Bishop Rob appointed next CEO of Church Urban Fund". Diocese of London. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Classified advertisements". Church Times. No. 8362. 23 June 2023. p. 35. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 July 2023 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ Bishop of Southwark [@BishopSouthwark] (2 November 2023). "A joy to commission Rob Wickham as an Honorary Assistant Bishop @SouthwarkCofE @StPetersVxhall a wonderful inner urban church and nearest to @churchurbanfund at The Foundry - praying for God's blessing on +Rob and the work for urban mission and renewal" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
