James Langstaff (bishop)
{{short description|British Anglican bishop (born 1956)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend
| name = James Langstaff
| image = Official portrait of The Lord Bishop of Rochester crop 2.jpg
| title = Bishop of Rochester
| church = Church of England
| diocese = Diocese of Rochester
| term = 2010–2021
| predecessor = Michael Nazir-Ali
| other_post = Bishop of Lynn {{nowrap|(2004–2010)}}
| ordination = 28 June 1981 (deacon)
27 June 1982 (priest)
| ordained_by = David Brown, Bishop of Guildford
| consecrated_by = Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|6|27|df=y}}
| nationality = British
| religion = Anglican
|residence=Bishopscourt, Rochester
| parents = Henry Langstaff & Jillian (née Brooks, now Harper)
| spouse = {{marriage|Bridget|1977}}{{cite web|url=http://www.norwich.anglican.org/about/people/bishoplynn.shtml|title=Page cannot be found (Diocese of Norwich)|website=norwich.anglican.org|access-date=28 July 2018}}
| children = two
| alma_mater = St Catherine's College, Oxford
University of Nottingham
}}
James Henry Langstaff (born 27 June 1956) is a British retired Anglican bishop. He served as Bishop of Rochester from 2010[http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page5448 Official notification of appointment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319035556/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page5448 |date=19 March 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/cathedral.cfm?IDNUMBER=16862|title=Page not found - Anglican Communion|first=Anglican Communion|last=Office|website=Anglican Communion Website|access-date=28 July 2018}} until 2021; he was previously the Bishop of Lynn, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Norwich, from 2004 to 2010.
Early life
Langstaff was born on 27 June 1956.{{Who's Who |title=Langstaff, James Henry |id= U44372 |volume= 2017 |edition= November 2016 online |access-date= 9 June 2017 }} He was educated at Cheltenham College, a public school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Catherine's College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA (Oxon)) degree in 1981.
In 1978, he entered St John's College, Nottingham, an Anglican theological college in the open evangelical tradition.{{Crockford| surname = Langstaff| forenames = James Henry| id = 24506| accessed = 22 June 2018}} He studied theology at the University of Nottingham and graduated with a BA degree in 1980. He then remained for a further year at St John's College to study for ordained ministry and completed a Diploma in Pastoral Studies.
Ordained ministry
Langstaff was made a deacon at Petertide 1981 (28 June){{Church Times | title = Petertide ordinations | archive = 1981_07_03_16 | issue = 6177 | date = 3 July 1981 | page = 16 | accessed = 7 September 2018 }} and ordained a priest the Petertide following (27 June 1982) — both times by David Brown, Bishop of Guildford, at Guildford Cathedral.{{Church Times | title = Petertide ordinations | archive = 1982_07_02_004 | issue = 6229 | date = 2 July 1982 | page = 4 | accessed = 9 June 2017 }} He began his ordained ministry with a curacy at St Peter's Farnborough, Hampshire,{{cite web|url=http://www.stpetersfarnborough.org.uk/|title=St Peter's Church|website=stpetersfarnborough.org.uk|access-date=28 July 2018}} after which he was Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells and St Clement's Church, Nechells. He was then chaplain to Mark Santer, Bishop of Birmingham. He became Rector of Holy Trinity Parish Church, Sutton Coldfield and Area Dean of Sutton Coldfield.
=Episcopal ministry=
Langstaff was appointed Bishop of Lynn in 2004. He was consecrated a bishop at Southwark Cathedral on 24 June{{cite web |url=http://www.dswark.org/cathedral/whats_on.htm |title=Southwark Cathedral - Events & Activities |website=www.dswark.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618041737/http://www.dswark.org/cathedral/whats_on.htm |archive-date=18 June 2004 |url-status=dead}} and installed as the suffragan Bishop of Lynn on 26 June 2004.
On 22 June 2010, Langstaff's translation to the See of Rochester was announced,{{cite web|url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/press-notices/2010/06/diocese-of-rochester-52162|title=Diocese of Rochester|website=number10.gov.uk|access-date=28 July 2018}} where he succeeded Michael Nazir-Ali. He was installed at Rochester Cathedral on 11 December 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.rochester.anglican.org/pdf_files/Admin/News+Release+College+of+Canons.pdf |title= Diocese of Rochester |website= rochester.anglican.org |access-date=28 July 2018}} He retired effective 31 July 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rochester.anglican.org/communications/news/bishop-james-announces-his-retirement.php|title = Diocese of Rochester | Bishop James announces his retirement}}
In April 2013 Langstaff became one of the patrons of West Kent YMCA,{{cite web|url=http://www.westkentymca.org.uk/mi5|title=West Kent YMCA - News Article|website=westkentymca.org.uk|access-date=28 July 2018}}{{cite web |url= http://www.westkentymca.org.uk/vip|title=West Kent YMCA - News Article |website= westkentymca.org.uk |access-date= 28 July 2018}} a charity supporting young people in parts of the Rochester diocese, drawing on his interest in social housing and development.Press release http://www.westkentymca.org.uk/documents/pr-26042013{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/bishop-of-rochester/4318|title=The Lord Bishop of Rochester|website=UK Parliament|access-date=28 July 2018}}
In 2013, Langstaff also became the Bishop to Prisons and in February 2014 became one of the bishops in the House of Lords.
In March 2020 Langstaff threatened his clergy with disciplinary action if they entered their churches to pray or livestream services.{{cite web|url=https://www.psephizo.com/life-ministry/pandemic-pandemonium-and-the-purple-powers/comment-page-1/|access-date=28 March 2023 |title=Pandemic Pandemonium and the Purple Powers | Psephizo |date=10 March 2023 }}
Langstaff is also Chair of the Board for Housing Justice, a national Christian charity which seeks to give voice to the church on issues of housing and homelessness.
He is also Patron of the charity Prisoners Abroad, Which provides a lifeline for British citizens and their families during and after imprisonment overseas.{{cite web|url=https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/patrons|title=Patrons|website=Prisoners Abroad|access-date=28 July 2018}}
Personal life
Langstaff is married to Bridget, with two children.[http://www.rochester.anglican.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=266&Itemid=408 "Biography - Bishop James Langstaff"] Anglican
Styles
- The Reverend James Langstaff (1981–2004)
- The Right Reverend James Langstaff (2004–present)
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150703051507/http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/24755/James-Henry-Langstaff-ROCHESTER Debrett's People of Today profile]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Christianity}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-rel|en}}
{{S-bef|before=Tony Foottit}}
{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Lynn|years=2004–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=Jonathan Meyrick}}
{{S-bef|before=Michael Nazir-Ali}}
{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Rochester|years=2010–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Jonathan Gibbs}}
{{S-end}}
{{Bishops of Lynn}}
{{Bishops of Rochester}}
{{Bishops to HM Prisons}}
{{Diocese of Rochester}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Langstaff, James Henry}}
Category:People educated at Cheltenham College
Category:Alumni of St Catherine's College, Oxford
Category:21st-century Church of England bishops