Christopher Lowson
| The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Lincoln | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lincoln |
| In office | 2011–present |
| Predecessor | John Saxbee |
| Other posts |
Archdeacon of Portsmouth/of Portsdown (1999–2006; title changed November 1999) Director of Ministry Division (2006–2011) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1977 |
| Consecration | 21 September 2011[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
3 February 1953 Consett, County Durham, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Susan Lowson |
| Children | James, Rebecca |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
Christopher Lowson (called Chris until 2011; born 3 February 1953)[2] is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2011, he has been the 72nd Bishop of Lincoln.[3]
Education and ordination
Lowson was educated at Newcastle Cathedral School, Consett Grammar School and King's College London where he was awarded an Associateship of King's College qualification in theology in 1975.[4] He then studied at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California (as a World Council of Churches' scholar), where he received a Master of Sacred Theology degree in theology before being ordained in 1977.[5][6][7][8] During his work Lowson studied part-time at Heythrop College, University of London where he obtained a Master of Theology degree in pastoral theology in 1996 and, in 2003, he completed a Master of Laws degree in canon law at Cardiff Law School.[6][8]
Ministry
Lowson was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Southwark in 1977 and as a priest in 1978. He began his ordained ministry as an assistant curate in Richmond, Surrey. He was successively priest in charge and vicar at Holy Trinity, Eltham. From 1982 to 1985 he was a chaplain at Avery Hill College and then of Thames Polytechnic to 1991 when he became vicar of Petersfield and rector of Buriton.[9] He held this appointment for eight years, for the last four of which he was also rural dean of Petersfield. In 1999 he became Archdeacon of Portsmouth, which soon after was divided into the archdeaconries of The Meon and of Portsdown; Lowson remained, becoming the Archdeacon of Portsdown until 2006. In that year he was appointed director of the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council and a priest vicar at Westminster Abbey, posts he held until the confirmation of his election to the See of Lincoln.[10]
Lowson's election as Bishop of Lincoln was confirmed at Lambeth Palace on 19 July 2011.[11] He was consecrated as a bishop on 21 September 2011 in Westminster Abbey and enthroned in Lincoln Cathedral on 12 November 2011.[1] He is believed to be the only steel worker ever to have been appointed a bishop.[12]
Clubs
He is a member of the Athenaeum Club and the Royal Automobile Club.
Styles
- The Reverend Chris Lowson (1978–1999)[13]
- The Venerable Chris Lowson (1999–2011)[14][15][16][17][18]
- The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson (2011–present)
References
- 1 2 Diocese of Lincoln – Consecration of Christopher Lowson Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Who's Who 2008, London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
- ↑ BBC News
- ↑ "Three alumni appointed as Bishops" (PDF). Comment (King's College London quarterly newsletter). March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ↑ "Home > News > Diocese of Lincoln". The Official Site of the British Prime Minister. London, United Kingdom: HM Government. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Christopher Lowson, AKC, STM, MTh, LLM, Director of Ministry at the Archbishops' Council, for election as Bishop of Lincoln.
- 1 2 "News > Appointment of 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". The Diocese of Lincoln. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
- ↑ Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6
- 1 2 "Christopher Lowson, Bishop of Lincoln". Linkedin. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ↑ Church website
- ↑ Number 10
- ↑ Diocese of Lincoln – Confirmation of the 72nd Bishop (Accessed 15 July 2013)
- ↑ "Director of Ministry - and former steel-worker - appointed 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". Lincoln, England: JUST Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire's Equality and Human Rights Council). 19 April 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
His father, grandfather (a professional footballer) and great-grandfather had all worked at Consett's steel works and Lowson worked there for two summers as a labourer in the coke ovens at the plant while undertaking his initial training for the ordained ministry.
- ↑ St Peter's Petersfield — The History of St Peter’s Church (Accessed 21 December 2015)
- ↑ Southern Daily Echo — Archdeacon Peter is man for new era (Accessed 21 December 2015)
- ↑ Diocese of Portsmouth — New Archdeacon for Portsmouth and Havant (Accessed 21 December 2015)
- ↑ The Telegraph — Church to tackle shortage of vicars (Accessed 21 December 2015)
- ↑ The Telegraph — Women priests to match males by 2025 (Accessed 21 December 2015)
- ↑ Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership — Visit from Director of the Ministry Division (Accessed 21 December 2015)