Colin James (bishop)

James was born on 20 September 1926.{{Who's Who | title=James, Colin Clement Walter | id = U21740 | type = was | volume = 1920–2014 | edition = April 2014 online | access-date = 18 October 2014 }} His father, Canon Charles Clement Hancock James, was also a Church of England clergyman.{{cite news |title=The Right Rev Colin James: Bishop of Winchester, 1985 95 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-right-rev-colin-james-bishop-of-winchester-1985-95-gggs0tms2pk |access-date=15 March 2021 |work=The Times |date=22 January 2010}} He was educated at Aldenham School, a private school in Hertfordshire, England. He studied modern history at King's College, Cambridge, and then trained for ordination at Cuddesdon Theological College.

James was ordained a deacon at Trinitytide 1952{{Church Times | title = Trinity ordinations: Province of Canterbury | archive = 1952_06_13_438 | issue = 4662 | date = 13 June 1952 | page = 438 | accessed = 14 February 2016 }} and priest a year later,{{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1953_06_12_436 | issue = 4714 | date = 12 June 1953 | page = 436 | accessed = 14 February 2016 }} both by William Wand, Bishop of London, at St Paul's Cathedral. His ordained ministry which began with a curacy at St Dunstan's, Stepney between 1952 and 1955. After which he was a chaplain of Stowe School from 1955 to 1959.Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1995 (Lambeth, Church House {{ISBN|0-7151-8088-6}})

In 1959, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a producer of religious programmes.Debrett's People of Today 1992 (London, Debrett's) {{ISBN|1-870520-09-2}}) He was Religious Broadcasting Organizer for BBC South West from 1960 to 1967. Then, his final appointment before being ordained to the episcopate, he was Vicar of St Peter's Church, Bournemouth from 1967 to 1973.[http://www.bournemouthfamilychurch.org/ Now called Bournemouth Family Church] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915133759/http://www.bournemouthfamilychurch.org/ |date=15 September 2008 }}

James was the first suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke in the Diocese of Winchester, beginning with his consecration as a bishop on 2 February 1973 at St Paul's Cathedral by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury.{{Church Times | title = (front page) | archive = 1973_02_09_001 | issue = 5739 | date = 9 February 1973 | page = 1 | accessed = 18 October 2014 }} He held his suffragan bishopric with a residentiary canonry of Winchester Cathedral.

He was translated to become diocesan Bishop of Wakefield{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefield.anglican.org/people/bishopofwakefield/bishophistory.htm |title=Former Bishops of Wakefield and Pontefract |publisher=Diocese of Wakefield |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511183737/http://www.wakefield.anglican.org/people/bishopofwakefield/bishophistory.htm |archivedate=11 May 2008 |url-status=dead}} and was enthroned at Wakefield Cathedral on 9 February 1977.{{Church Times | title = Christians told of need | archive = 1977_02_11_020 | issue = 5948 | date = 11 February 1977 | page = 20 | accessed = 14 February 2016 }} He was returned to the Diocese of Winchester as the diocesan Bishop of Winchester;[http://www.winchester.anglican.org/page.php?id=1045 Diocese of Winchester] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20110722110417/http://www.winchester.anglican.org/page.php?id=1045 |date=22 July 2011 }} he was enthroned at Winchester Cathedral on 28 June 1985,{{Church Times | title = USPG's new chairman | archive = 1985_06_21_003 | issue = 6384 | date = 21 June 1985 | page = 3 | accessed = 18 October 2014 }} having been elected two weeks prior and confirmed (officially becoming the Bishop) at some intervening point. He retired in April 1995.{{Church Times | title = A pair of slippers (press review) | archive = 1995_03_31_015 | issue = 6894 | date = 31 March 1995 | page = 15 | accessed = 18 October 2014 }}

He died on 10 December 2009.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/religion-obituaries/6867538/The-Right-Reverend-Colin-James.html The Right Reverend Colin James], The Daily Telegraph, p. 29, 23 December 2009

James was part of the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England, and was opposed to the ordination of women. He was not, however, a conservative in all matters, and supported the change to inclusive language in worship.

{{Portal|Christianity}}

{{Reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-rel|en}}

{{S-new|title}}

{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Basingstoke|years=1973–1977}}

{{S-aft|after=Michael Manktelow}}

{{S-bef|before=Eric Treacy}}

{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Wakefield|years=1977–1985}}

{{S-aft|after=David Hope}}

{{S-bef|before=John Taylor}}

{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Winchester|years=1985–1995}}

{{S-aft|after=Michael Scott-Joynt}}

{{S-end}}

{{Bishops of Basingstoke}}

{{Bishops of Wakefield (diocese)}}

{{Bishops of Winchester}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Colin}}

Category:1926 births

Category:2009 deaths

Category:People educated at Aldenham School

Category:Alumni of King's College, Cambridge

Category:BBC people

Category:Bishops of Basingstoke

Category:Bishops of Wakefield (diocese)

Category:Bishops of Winchester

Category:20th-century Church of England bishops