Tim Dakin

Dakin was born in Kongwa, Tanganyika (modern Tanzania), where his parents were church missionaries working in Tanzania and Kenya. In the Church of England Year Book, he states that he was educated at St Mary's School, Nairobi, Kenya, but was otherwise educated in England at The Priory Grammar School for Boys, Shrewsbury and Henley Sixth Form College.{{cite web |title=✠ The Rt Revd Timothy John DAKIN |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/people/w13439/%E2%9C%A0%C2%A0The%20Rt%20Revd%20Timothy%20John%20DAKIN |website=The Church of England Year Book |publisher=Church House Publishing |access-date=4 November 2024 |quote= Education: Priory School Shrewsbury; St Mary’s School Nairobi; Henley Sixth Form College}} However, in Who's Who, he states "Schools in Tanzania and Kenya" as his education, with no mention of the English schools.{{cite web |title=Winchester, Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Timothy Dakin) (born 6 Feb. 1958) |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U256526 |website=Who's Who 2023 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=4 November 2024 |language=en |date=1 December 2022 |quote= Education: Schs in Tanzania and Kenya; University Coll. of St Mark and St John, Plymouth; King’s Coll. London (BA Theol. and Phil.; MTh)}} He studied theology and philosophy at the University College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1986.{{Crockford| surname = Dakin | forenames = Timothy John | id = 24345| accessed = 3 September 2018}}{{cite web |title=Winchester, Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Timothy Dakin) (born 6 Feb. 1958) |website=Who's Who 2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U256526 |url= https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-256526 |date=1 December 2017 }} He then studied at King's College London, graduating with a Master of Theology (MTh) degree in 1987.

His autobiographical details refer to ordinations in 1993 and 1994; he does not appear to have served his title in the usual way, an appointment as principal of the Church Army training college in Nairobi, a post previously held by his father, the Revd Stanley Dakin. During this time he was also an assistant curate at All Saints' Cathedral, Nairobi.[https://www.winchester.anglican.org/bishop-of-winchester/ Diocese of Winchester — Bishop of Winchester] (Accessed 22 June 2021) He took up his appointment as general secretary of the Church Mission Society (CMS) in 2000. During this time, he was also an honorary curate of St James the Great, Ruscombe in the Diocese of Oxford, Church of England. He was appointed honorary canon theologian at Coventry Cathedral in 2001.

His appointment as Bishop of Winchester was announced on 6 September 2011 and he legally became bishop with the confirmation of his election on 20 December 2011,[http://www.winchester.anglican.org/news/story/115/ Diocese of Winchester – Bishop election confirmed] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130717081448/http://www.winchester.anglican.org/news/story/115/ |date=2013-07-17 }} (Accessed 15 July 2013) ahead of his 25 January consecration by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral.{{Cite web | url=http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/9493203.Winchester-bound_Tim_Dakin_consecrated_as_a_bishop/ | title=Winchester-bound Tim Dakin consecrated as a bishop}} His installation at Winchester Cathedral was on 21 April and he was introduced in the House of Lords on 26 March.[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/minutes/120321/ldordpap.htm#future "Future Business"], House of Lords Business, 21 March 2012. After John Taylor in 1974, he was only the second priest to be consecrated directly to the See of Winchester since 1595. In May 2013, Dakin was additionally appointed the Bishop for Higher and Further Education, a national spokesperson role.[http://www.churchofengland.org/education/colleges-universities/he/higher-education-news-bulletin/may-2013.aspx Church of England Higher Education Bulletin – May 2013]

As Bishop of Winchester he was the visitor to five Oxford colleges including Magdalen College, Oxford, New College, Oxford, and St John's College, Oxford. He also held ex officio the position of prelate of the Order of the Garter.

The Channel Islands had been under the oversight of the bishops of Winchester since the 16th century. In 2013, Dakin commissioned a report (the Steel Report) into alleged abuse by Channel Islands clergy, which found that there should be no disciplinary action against anyone. The full content of the report has never been published.

In January 2014, it was announced that the Channel Islands would be temporarily removed from the oversight of the Bishop of Winchester,{{cite web |url=https://www.winchester.anglican.org/news/2014/01/24/pastoral-letter-from-bishop-tim-dakin/ |title=Pastoral letter from Bishop Tim Dakin |date=24 January 2014 |publisher=Diocese of Winchester}} after relations between Dakin and the Deanery of Jersey broke down{{cite web |url = https://www.lawandreligionuk.com/2019/06/04/the-channel-islands-and-the-church-of-england/ |title = The Channel Islands and the Church of England |date= 4 June 2019|publisher = Law and Religion UK |access-date = 11 October 2019 }} over the handling of the alleged abuse, and the suspension of the Dean of Jersey, Bob Key.{{cite news|title=Channel Island church in Winchester split|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-25847387|access-date=10 March 2014|newspaper=BBC News|date=22 January 2014}} The deaneries of Jersey and Guernsey were transferred to the direct oversight of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Dean of Jersey was reinstated, with Archbishop Justin Welby subsequently issuing an apology to the dean and his wife "for the hurt and the treatment that they had received".{{cite web |url = https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/11-october/news/uk/channel-islands-to-leave-the-see-of-winchester |title = Channel Islands to leave the see of Winchester |last= Williams|first= Hattie|date= 9 October 2019|publisher = Church Times |access-date = 11 October 2019 }}

In the face of continued poor relations, the Archbishop of Canterbury formed a special commission in June 2018, under the chairmanship of a former Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, to decide on a way forward. In a report prepared for a visiting delegation during the commission process, the standing committee of the Deanery of Guernsey wrote of its relationship with Dakin: "While the handling of the Jersey safeguarding issue may have been the trigger for the current position, it is not the only matter which has so seriously strained the relationship." The commission issued its conclusions in October 2019, stating of Dakin's original handling of the case that "The suspension of the Dean came as a seismic shock to the civic authorities and churchpeople in Jersey, and triggered a breakdown in trust between the Church and people in both Islands, and Winchester. Questions were immediately raised as to the propriety, and indeed legality, of the Bishop's actions." The final decision of the commission was that the Channel Islands should not return to the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Winchester, but should instead be incorporated into the neighbouring Diocese of Salisbury as a new permanent arrangement for episcopal care. The new arrangement is for both the Jersey and Guernsey deaneries, as relations with Dakin had broken down across all the Channel Islands.

On 20 May 2021 it was reported that Dakin had "stepped back" as diocesan bishop for six weeks, in light of the threat of a diocesan synod motion of no confidence in his leadership. The motion stated "We do not have confidence in the diocesan bishop ... to lead by example, due to allegations of poor behaviour and mistreatment on his part of a number of individuals."{{cite web |url = https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/2-july/news/uk/talks-about-dakin-s-future-to-continue |title = Talks about Dakin's future to continue |last= |first= |author= |date= 29 June 2021|editor-last= |editor-first= |publisher = The Church Times |location= London|page= |access-date = 29 June 2021 |quote= }} The motion was not tabled, following Dakin's decision to "step back". The motion additionally described administrative and financial management in the diocese as "unfit for purpose".

David Williams, Dakin's suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke, also "stepped back", having been amongst those representing complaints to Lambeth Palace. Debbie Sellin, Bishop of Southampton, agreed to temporarily be acting diocesan bishop.{{Church Times | title = Bishop of Winchester steps back after diocesan rebellion | url = https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/21-may/news/uk/bishop-of-winchester-steps-back-after-diocesan-rebellion | issue = 8253 | date = 21 May 2021 | page = | accessed = 20 May 2021 }}

Dakin's period of "stepping back" was later extended to the end of August.{{cite news |title=Delays over decision over future of Bishop of Winchester |url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/19407263.delays-decision-future-bishop-winchester-rt-rev-tim-dakin/ |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=Hampshire Chronicle |date=29 June 2021 |language=en}} The Church Times reported on 29 June that the facilitated conversations, or commentary upon them, had led to a wider discussion concerning "the culture of the diocese". On 16 July 2021 he announced his forthcoming retirement as bishop of the diocese effective February 2022. He stated that he would be "handing over his responsibilities to others" until his retirement formally took effect.{{cite web|url=https://www.winchester.anglican.org/news/2021/07/16/bishop-winchester-announces-retirement/|title=Bishop of Winchester announces retirement|website=Diocese of Winchester|date=16 July 2021|access-date=18 July 2021}}

On 29 January 2022, at Evensong in Winchester Cathedral, Dakin laid down his pastoral staff{{cite AV media |date=29 January 2022 |title=01-29-22 Choral Evensong with the Girl Chorister Open Day |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IyQj0_PF3g |publisher=Winchester Cathedral }} in preparation for his formal retirement on 6 February 2022, his 64th birthday.{{cite web |url=https://cofewinchester.contentfiles.net/media/documents/document/2022/01/Arrangements_for_the_vacancy_in_the_Diocese_of_Winchester.pdf |title=Arrangements for the vacancy in the Diocese of Winchester |date=10 January 2022 |publisher=Diocese of Winchester |author=Archbishop of Canterbury |author-link=Archbishop of Canterbury}}

Since 2022 he has held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Exeter; he is not an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese.{{Crockford| surname = Dakin | forenames = Timothy John | id = 24345| accessed = 4 November 2024}} He is also a co-opted member of the board of governors at Plymouth Marjon University, his alma mater, formerly known as the University of St Mark and St John.{{cite web |title=Our Governors |url=https://www.marjon.ac.uk/about-marjon/governance--management/university-board-of-governors/our-governors/ |website=www.marjon.ac.uk |publisher=Plymouth Marjon University |access-date=4 November 2024 |language=en-gb}}

Dakin was a committee member of the Evangelical Group of the General Synod of the Church of England.{{cite web|title=Evangelical Group of the General Synod website|url=http://www.eggscofe.org.uk/about-eggs.html|access-date=10 March 2014}} In March 2014, the group sent an email to its members about the introduction of same-sex marriage in England and Wales, saying that the committee members believed that "appropriate sacramental discipline should apply to those who choose to enter into any sexual relationship other than within marriage between a man and a woman".{{cite web|url=http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/006482.html|publisher=Thinking Anglicans|access-date=10 March 2014|title=Reactions to the House of Bishops statement – episode 9 – Thinking Anglicans}} He has been described as having a "conservative theology".{{cite news |last1=Napier |first1=Andrew |title=Chronic problems within Winchester Diocese revealed |url=https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/19397173.chronic-problems-winchester-diocese-revealed/?ref=ar |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=Hampshire Chronicle |date=25 June 2021 |language=en}}

Dakin is married to the Reverend Sally Dakin and they have two children. She held a diocesan appointment as the Bishop's Adviser on Spirituality.{{cite web|url=https://www.winchester.anglican.org/bishops-advisers/|title=Bishop's Advisers|website=Diocese of Winchester|access-date=19 July 2021}}{{dead link|date=November 2022}}

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Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of King's College London

Category:Bishops for Higher and Further Education

Category:Bishops of Winchester

Category:Evangelical Anglican bishops

Category:Lords Spiritual

Category:Church Army people

Category:Alumni of Plymouth Marjon University

Category:People from Kongwa District