David Court (bishop)

Court was born on 16 October 1958 in Norwich, England.{{cite web |title=Grimsby, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Dr David Court) (born 16 Oct. 1958) |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U281837 |website=Who's Who 2021 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=2 February 2021 |language=en |date=1 December 2020}} He was educated at a comprehensive school in Norwich. He went on to study electrochemistry at the University of Southampton, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1980 and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1983.{{Crockford | surname = Court | forenames = David Eric | id = 24854 | accessed = 23 June 2018 }} His doctoral thesis was titled "Some electrochemical studies in large molecules",{{cite web |last1=Court |first1=D. E. |title=Some electrochemical studies in large molecules |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.353716 |website=E-Thesis Online Service |publisher=The British Library |access-date=2 February 2021 |date=1984}} and related to the medicinal opportunities of sugar. He then remained Southampton to undertake teacher training, and completed his Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in 1984.

From 1984 to 1988, Court taught chemistry and physics at Prince William School, a secondary school in Oundle, Northamptonshire.{{cite web |title=The Rt Revd Dr David Eric COURT PhD, BSc, BA |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/people/w13428/%E2%9C%A0%C2%A0the%20rt%20revd%20dr%20david%20eric%20court |website=The Church of England Year Book |publisher=Church House Publishing |access-date=2 February 2021}} Having become a committed Christian while at university, he left teaching and entered Oak Hill Theological College, a conservative evangelical theological college in London. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1991.

Court was made a deacon at Petertide 1991 (7 July) by Paul Barber, Bishop of Brixworth;{{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1991_07_12_006 | issue = 6700 | date = 12 July 1991 | page = 6 | accessed = 2 July 2022 }} and ordained a priest the following Petertide (5 July 1992) by Bill Westwood, Bishop of Peterborough — both times at Peterborough Cathedral.{{Church Times | title = Petertide ordinations | archive = 1992_07_24_005 | issue = 6754 | date = 24 July 1992 | page = 5 | accessed = 2 July 2022 }} Court served his title (curacy) in Barton Seagrave; from 1994 to 1997, he served a second curacy in Kinson before moving to become Vicar of Mile Cross, Norwich. He then moved to become Vicar of Cromer in 2003; while remaining in which post, he became Rural Dean of Repps and an honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral in 2010.

On 9 May 2014, it was announced that Court had been appointed Bishop of Grimsby in the Diocese of Lincoln. He was duly consecrated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury on 25 July 2014 at St Paul's Cathedral, London and installed at Lincoln Cathedral on 27 July 2014.

Between May 2019 and February 2021, during the suspension of the Bishop of Lincoln (Christopher Lowson), Court was served as acting diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln.{{cite web |title=Bishop of Lincoln suspended from office |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48300200 |website=BBC News |accessdate=16 May 2019 |date=16 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/5-february/news/uk/bishop-of-lincoln-can-return-to-duty-after-20-month-safeguarding-investigation|title=Bishop of Lincoln can return to duty after 20-month safeguarding investigation}} He has once more been acting Bishop of Lincoln since 1 May 2023, during the interregnum, in succession to Stephen Conway who had been acting bishop since Lowson retired in December 2021.{{cite web |website=Diocese of Lincoln |title=Bishop of Grimsby to be Acting Bishop of Lincoln |date=28 April 2023 |url=https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/News/bishop-of-grimsby-to-be-acting-bishop-of-lincoln |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428135348/https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/News/bishop-of-grimsby-to-be-acting-bishop-of-lincoln |archive-date=28 April 2023 |access-date=21 May 2023 }}

On 3 February 2025, it was announced that Court intends to retire, resigning his See effective 31 July.{{cite news |website=Diocese of Lincoln |title=The Bishop of Grimsby, David Court, Announces Retirement |date=3 February 2025 |url=https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news/the-bishop-of-grimsby-the-rt-revd-dr-david-court-announces-retirement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204133428/https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news/the-bishop-of-grimsby-the-rt-revd-dr-david-court-announces-retirement/ |archive-date=4 February 2025 |access-date=3 February 2025 }}

In reaction to the Living in Love and Faith process and the proposed introduction of the blessing of same-sex relationships, he stated: "I am hugely grateful to all those whose honesty and vulnerability have helped shape my own thinking on these issues of human identity and sexuality. I have had much to learn and have been changed."{{cite web |title=Pastoral Letter to the Diocese |url=https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/News/pastoral-letter-to-the-diocese |website=Diocese of Lincoln |publisher=Lincoln Diocesan Trust and Board of Finance |access-date=22 January 2023 |language=en}}

Court is married to Ann, and they have three children.

• Doctor David Court (1983–1991)
• The Reverend Doctor David Court (1991–2010)
• The Reverend Canon Doctor David Court (2010–2014)
• The Right Reverend Doctor David Court (2014–present)

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Category:1958 births

Category:21st-century Church of England bishops

Category:Bishops of Grimsby

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton

Category:Alumni of Oak Hill College

Category:Schoolteachers from Northamptonshire