Michael Ipgrave

Ipgrave was born on 18 April 1958 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. He was educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley, a state school in South Northamptonshire.{{Who's Who | title=Ipgrave, Michael Geoffrey | id = U44476 | volume = 2017 | edition = November 2016 online | access-date = 6 July 2017 }} In January 1975, aged 16, he captained his school team of Top of The Form, on the radio, reaching the final, but lost to Cheltenham Grammar School. Also in the team was Marni Burfitt, aged 15, Alison de Verteuil, aged 13, and David Seaman, aged 12, being coached by teachers Clive Waind and Rosemary Davies.Banbury Guardian Thursday 9 January 1975, page 15

From 1975 to 1978, he studied mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

From 1979 to 1980, he attended the Spring Hill Ordination Scheme in Birmingham.{{cite web |title=New Archdeacon of Southwark |url=http://archive.southwark.anglican.org/news/pr/pr264.php |website=archive.southwark.anglican.org |publisher=The Diocese of Southwark |access-date=1 December 2018 |date=2 July 2004 |archive-date=2 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202024731/http://archive.southwark.anglican.org/news/pr/pr264.php |url-status=dead }} From 1979 to 1982, he trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college near Oxford.{{cite web|title=Bishop of Lichfield: Michael Geoffrey Ipgrave|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bishop-of-lichfield-michael-geoffrey-ipgrave|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=2 March 2016|date=2 March 2016}} During that period he also studied theology at the University of Oxford, and graduated with an additional first class BA. In 1999 Ipgrave completed a doctorate at Durham University with a thesis entitled Trinity and inter-faith dialogue: plenitude and plurality.{{cite web|title="Ipgrave, Michael" – Durham e-Theses|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/view/creators/Ipgrave=3AMichael=3A=3A.html|publisher=Durham University|access-date=6 May 2018}}

Ipgrave was ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1982 (27 June){{Church Times | title = Petertide ordinations | archive = 1982_07_02_004 | issue = 6229 | date = 2 July 1982 | page = 4 | accessed = 6 July 2017 }} and ordained a priest in the Petertide following (26 June 1983) {{emdash}} both times by Douglas Feaver, Bishop of Peterborough, at Peterborough Cathedral.{{Church Times | title = Petertide ordinations | archive = 1983_07_01_004 | issue = 6281 | date = 1 July 1983 | page = 4 | accessed = 6 July 2017 }} After a curacy in Oakham followed by time in Japan, he was a team vicar in two separate Leicester parishes.{{Crockford | forenames = Michael Geoffrey | surname = Ipgrave | id = 24921 | accessed = 6 July 2017 }}

In Leicester, in 1991, he was appointed diocesan chaplain for relations with people of other faiths, and bishops' domestic chaplain in 1992. He was appointed Archdeacon of Southwark in 2004. In 2010 he also became Canon Missioner of Southwark Cathedral. He was co-chair of Southwark and London Housing Association (now Amicus Horizon)

He was formerly Inter Faith Relations Advisor to the Archbishops' Council and secretary of the Churches' Commission on Inter-Faith Relations.

On 3 February 2012, Ipgrave was announced as the next Bishop of Woolwich, an area bishop in the Diocese of Southwark.{{cite web|title=Two new Area Bishops for Southwark Diocese |url=http://southwark.anglican.org/news/pr/pr.php?id=1887 |website=Diocese of Southwark |publisher=Church of England |access-date=2 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205093133/http://southwark.anglican.org/news/pr/pr.php?id=1887 |archive-date=5 February 2012 }} On 21 March 2012, he was consecrated a bishop, by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service in Southwark Cathedral. He also served as Warden of Readers for the diocese. In May 2013, he read bidding prayers at a Mass for Lee Rigby who was murdered by Islamists in the 2013 Woolwich attack.{{cite news | title=Woolwich Mass for Drummer Rigby | work=The Tablet | publisher=The Tablet Publishing Company | date=24 May 2013 | url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5335 | access-date=24 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813042641/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/5335 | archive-date= 13 August 2013}}

Since February 2015 Ipgrave has been chair of the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ).{{cite web| url = http://www.ccj.org.uk/about-us/trustees/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160409135756/http://www.ccj.org.uk/about-us/trustees/| archive-date = 9 April 2016| title = Trustees {{!}} CCJ}} On 2 March 2016, it was announced that he was to become the next diocesan Bishop of Lichfield. His canonical election to that See was confirmed on 10 June 2016;[https://twitter.com/OurCofE/status/741297227855958020 OurCofE twitter] (Accessed 11 June 2016) his installation at Lichfield Cathedral took place on 24 September 2016.{{cite web|title=Welcoming Bishop Michael|url=http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/ournews/welcoming-bishop-michael/|website=Diocese of Lichfield|access-date=22 May 2016|date=9 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521110321/http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/ournews/welcoming-bishop-michael/|archive-date=21 May 2016|url-status=dead}}

He became a member of the House of Lords (as a Lord Spiritual) on 25 October 2022;{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4954/career|title=The Lord Bishop of Lichfield |access-date=1 March 2023}} he was introduced on 20 February 2023.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2023-02-20/debates/40AAF454-AFD1-4116-9E78-5A89028122FF/IntroductionTheLordBishopOfLichfield|title=Introduction: The Lord Bishop of Lichfield|website=UK Parliament Hansard}} On 25 April 2023, he made his maiden speech in the Lords during a debate on parliamentary democracy in the United Kingdom;{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= United Kingdom |title= Parliamentary Democracy in the United Kingdom |url= https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2023-04-25/debates/A2F1AF93-B43A-46C6-A584-6E7103AAE0EE/details#contribution-51915DC2-A89F-44BF-8F8D-CB92E29F2CC6 |house= House of Lords |date= 25 April 2023 |volume= 829 |column_start= 1180 |column_end= 1181 |speaker= The Lord Bishop of Lichfield |position=}} {{as of|September 2024||alt=as of September 2024}}, this has been his only speech.{{cite web |title=The Lord Bishop of Lichfield: Spoken contributions |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4954/contributions |website=members.parliament.uk |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=6 September 2024}}

In November 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Francis |title=Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=Church Times |date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102131648/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |archive-date=2 November 2023}}

In 1981, Ipgrave married Julia Bailey. Together they have raised three children.

In the 2011 New Year Honours, Ipgrave was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to inter-faith relations in London".{{London Gazette |issue=59647 |date=31 December 2010 |page=11 |supp=y}}

He has edited six volumes on Christian and Muslim relations. He is author of Trinity and Inter Faith Dialogue, and has contributed to journal articles and book chapters on inter-faith matters.

• {{cite book |last1=Ipgrave |first1=Michael |title=Christ in ten thousand places: a Catholic perspective on Christian encounter with other faiths |date=1994 |publisher=Dartman, Longman and Todd |location=London |isbn=978-0232520798}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ipgrave |first1=Michael |title=Trinity and inter faith dialogue: plenitude and plurality |date=2003 |publisher=Peter Lang |location=Bern |isbn=978-3906769776}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBX6kgmS78Y Interviewed on ANN TV 2015]

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{{Archdeacons of Southwark}}

{{Bishops of Woolwich}}

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Category:Archdeacons of Southwark

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Category:1958 births

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Category:Bishops of Lichfield

Category:21st-century Church of England bishops