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bishop of Oxford

{{Short description|Diocesan bishop in the Church of England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox diocese

| bishopric = Oxford

| border = anglican

| image = Diocese of Oxford arms.svg

| incumbent = Steven Croft

| province = Canterbury

| established = 1542

| cathedral = Christ Church Cathedral

| first_incumbent = Robert King

| diocese = Oxford

}}

The Bishop of Oxford is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford in the Province of Canterbury; his seat is at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. The current bishop is Steven Croft, following the confirmation of his election to the See on 6 July 2016.[http://www.oxford.anglican.org/legal-ceremony-moves-bishop-steven-step-closer/ Diocese of Oxford — Legal ceremony brings Bishop Steven a step closer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714202703/http://www.oxford.anglican.org/legal-ceremony-moves-bishop-steven-step-closer/ |date=14 July 2016 }} & [http://www.oxford.anglican.org/letter-bishop-steven/ Diocese of Oxford — Letter from Bishop Steven] (Both Retrieved 8 July 2016)

The Bishop of Oxford has authority throughout the diocese, but also has primary responsibility for the city and suburbs of Oxford, which form the Archdeaconry of Oxford.

From 1636 the Bishop was housed in the purpose-built Cuddesdon Palace.

History

The origins of Christianity in this part of England go back at least to the 7th century, when Saint Birinus brought his mission to the West Saxons in 634. The West Saxon King Cynegils was baptised in the River Thames near the present site of Dorchester Abbey, where the original See was established.

The see was transferred in 1092 to Winchester, before being absorbed into the Diocese of Lincoln, the vast extent of which covered much of central and eastern England from the River Thames to the Humber.

King Henry VIII, acting now as head of the Church in England, established by Act of Parliament in 1542 six new dioceses, mostly out of the spoils of the suppressed monasteries. These six were Bristol, Chester, Gloucester, Oxford, Peterborough and Westminster. This intervention by Henry VIII saw a new see located at Osney in Oxfordshire in 1542 before finally being moved to its present location in the City of Oxford in 1546.

While the city gained prosperity from the accession of thousands of students, it was never, apart from the university, again prominent in history until the seventeenth century, when it became the headquarters of the Royalist party, and again the meeting-place of Parliament. The city of Oxford showed its Hanoverian sympathies long before the university, and feeling between them ran high in consequence. The area and population of the city remained almost stationary until about 1830, but since then it has grown rapidly.

Modern bishopric

The modern diocese covers the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, with parishes also in Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, and Warwickshire. The see is in the City of Oxford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ which was elevated to cathedral status in 1546, and which (uniquely among English dioceses) is also the chapel of Christ Church, Oxford.

The Oxford diocese at the present day contains the greatest number of parishes of any diocese on England (621) and also the most church buildings (815), of which 475 are grade 1 or 2* listed buildings.

Croft is the first to reside at the new Bishop's Lodge, Kidlington; "for decades" previously, bishops had resided at Linton Road in North Oxford.{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11552552.New_Bishop_of_Oxford_will_live_outside_city_as_current___10m_house_deemed_too_expensive/ |title=New Bishop of Oxford will live outside city as current £10m house deemed too expensive |first=Andrew |last=Ffrench |website=Oxford Mail |date=23 October 2014 |access-date=2 October 2017 }} Each bishop signs + Christian name Oxon:; e.g. + Steven Oxon:.

List of bishops

List of the Bishops of Oxford, and its precursor offices.

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

class="wikitable" style="width:95%;"
colspan="4" style="background:#7f1734; color:white;"| Bishops of Oxford
style="background:#d4b1bb; width:10%;"| From

! style="background:#d4b1bb; width:10%;"| Until

! style="background:#d4b1bb; width:25%;"| Incumbent

! style="background:#d4b1bb; width:50%;"| Notes

style="vertical-align:top; background:#eee;"

| colspan="4"|See at Osney

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1542

| style="text-align: center;" | 1546

| 60px Robert King

| previously suffragan bishop to the Bishop of Lincoln (as titular Bishop of Rheon, Greece)

style="vertical-align:top; background:#eee;"

| colspan="4"|See at Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1546

| style="text-align: center;" | 1558

| 60px Robert King

| previously Bishop of Rheon (above)

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1558

| style="text-align: center;" | 1559

| 60px Thomas Goldwell

| Translated from St Asaph: his nomination had however been left unsigned at the death of the Queen; deprived, fled to Milan, Naples and Rome

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1559

| style="text-align: center;" | 1567

| colspan="2"|See vacant

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1567

| style="text-align: center;" | 1568

| 60px Hugh Curwen

| Translated from Dublin

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1568

| style="text-align: center;" | 1589

| colspan="2"|See vacant

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1589

| style="text-align: center;" | 1592

| 60px John Underhill

| Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1592

| style="text-align: center;" | 1604

| colspan="2"|See vacant

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1604

| style="text-align: center;" | 1618

| 60px John Bridges

| Dean of Salisbury

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1619

| style="text-align: center;" | 1628

| 60px John Howson

| Student of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to Durham

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1628

| style="text-align: center;" | 1632

| 60px Richard Corbet

| Dean of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to Norwich

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1632

| style="text-align: center;" | 1641

| 60px John Bancroft

| Master of University College, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1641

| style="text-align: center;" | 1646

| 60px Robert Skinner

| Translated from Bristol; deprived of the see when the English episcopacy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646.

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| align=center | 1646

| align=center | 1660

| colspan=2| The see was abolished during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.{{cite web |last=Plant |first=David |year=2002 |url=http://bcw-project.org/church-and-state/sects-and-factions/episcopalians |title=Episcopalians |website=BCW Project |access-date=25 April 2021 }}{{cite journal |last=King |first=Peter |date=July 1968 |title=The Episcopate during the Civil Wars, 1642-1649 |journal=The English Historical Review |volume= 83 |issue= 328 |pages=523–537 |publisher=Oxford University Press |jstor=564164 |doi=10.1093/ehr/lxxxiii.cccxxviii.523}}

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1660

| style="text-align: center;" | 1663

| 60px Robert Skinner

| Restored; translated to Worcester

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1663

| style="text-align: center;" | 1665

| 60px William Paul

| Dean of Lichfield

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1665

| style="text-align: center;" | 1671

| 60px Walter Blandford

| Warden of Wadham College, Oxford;{{London Gazette|city=o|issue=1|page=1|date=7 November 1665}} translated to Worceser

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1671

| style="text-align: center;" | 1674

| 60px Nathaniel Crew

| Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, and Dean of Chichester; translated to Durham

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1674

| style="text-align: center;" | 1676

| 60px Henry Compton

| Canon of Christ Church, Oxford; translated to London

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1676

| style="text-align: center;" | 1686

| 60px John Fell

| Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1686

| style="text-align: center;" | 1687

| 60px Samuel Parker

| Archdeacon of Canterbury; died in office

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1688

| style="text-align: center;" | 1690

| 60px Timothy Hall

| Denied installation by the Chapter of Christ Church

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1690

| style="text-align: center;" | 1699

| 60px John Hough

| President of Magdalen College, Oxford; translated to Lichfield

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1699

| style="text-align: center;" | 1715

| 60px William Talbot

| Dean of Worcester; translated to Salisbury

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1715

| style="text-align: center;" | 1737

| 60px John Potter

| Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford; translated to Canterbury

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1737

| style="text-align: center;" | 1758

| 60px Thomas Secker

| Translated from Bristol; translated to Canterbury

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1758

| style="text-align: center;" | 1766

| 60px John Hume

| Translated from Bristol; translated to Salisbury

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1766

| style="text-align: center;" | 1777

| 60px Robert Lowth

| Translated from St David's; translated to London

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1777

| style="text-align: center;" | 1788

| 60px John Butler

| Prebendary of Winchester; translated to Hereford

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1788

| style="text-align: center;" | 1799

| 60px Edward Smallwell

| Translated from St David's

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1799

| style="text-align: center;" | 1807

| 60px John Randolph

| Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford; translated to Bangor

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1807

| style="text-align: center;" | 1811

| 60px Charles Moss

|

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1812

| style="text-align: center;" | 1815

| 60px William Jackson

| Regius Professor of Greek, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1816

| style="text-align: center;" | 1827

| 60px Edward Legge

| Dean of Windsor

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1827

| style="text-align: center;" | 1829

| 60px Charles Lloyd

| Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1829

| style="text-align: center;" | 1845

| 60px Richard Bagot

| Dean of Canterbury; translated to Bath & Wells

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1845

| style="text-align: center;" | 1869

| 60px Samuel Wilberforce

| Dean of Westminster; translated to Winchester

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1870

| style="text-align: center;" | 1889

| 60px John Mackarness

| Prebendary of Exeter

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1889

| style="text-align: center;" | 1901

| 60px William Stubbs

| Translated from Chester

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1901

| style="text-align: center;" | 1911

| 60px Francis Paget

| Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1911

| style="text-align: center;" | 1919

| 60px Charles Gore

| Translated from Birmingham; resigned

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1919

| style="text-align: center;" | 1925

| 60px Hubert Burge

| Translated from Southwark

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1925

| style="text-align: center;" | 1937

| 60px Thomas Strong

| Translated from Ripon; resigned

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1937

| style="text-align: center;" | 1954

| 60px Kenneth Kirk

| Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Oxford

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1955

| style="text-align: center;" | 1970

| 60px Harry Carpenter

| Warden of Keble College, Oxford; resigned

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1971

| style="text-align: center;" | 1978

| 60px Kenneth Woollcombe

| Principal of Edinburgh Theological College; resigned

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1978

| style="text-align: center;" | 1986

| 60px Patrick Rodger

| Translated from Manchester; resigned

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 1987

| style="text-align: center;" | 2006

| 60px Richard Harries

| Dean of King's College, London; ennobled on retirement

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 2006

| style="text-align: center;" | 2014

| 60px John Pritchard

| Translated from Jarrow

style="vertical-align:top; background:white;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 2014

| style="text-align: center;" | 2016

| Colin Fletcher
Bishop of Dorchester

| Acting Bishop. The unusually long vacancy was due to the Crown Nominations Commission failing to appoint in May 2015, and having to rejoin the back of the 'queue' for a second chance in March 2016.[https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2015/05/vacancy-in-the-see-of-oxford.aspx Church of England Media Centre — Vacancy in the See of Oxford] (Retrieved 15 May 2015)

style="vertical-align:top; background:#f7f0f2;"

| style="text-align: center;" | 6 July 2016

| style="text-align: center;" | incumbent

| 60px Steven Croft

| Translated from Sheffield

Assistant bishops

Among those who have served the diocese as stipendiary (i.e. not retired) Assistant Bishops have been:

Those who have served in (or into) retirement have included:

  • 1952 (ret.){{snd}}1956 (d.): Roscow Shedden, former Bishop of Nassau
  • 1952 (ret.){{snd}}1956 (d.): Gerald Allen, retired Bishop suffragan of Dorchester
  • 1954 (ret.){{snd}}1961 (d.): Arthur Parham, retired Bishop suffragan of Reading{{Who's Who |id=U55978 |title=Parham, Arthur Groom}}

See also

{{Portal|England}}

{{br}}

Notes

{{reflist}}

References

  • [http://www.oxford.anglican.org Oxford Diocesan] Year Book
  • Haydn's Book of Dignities (1894) Joseph Haydn/Horace Ockerby, reprinted (1969)
  • Whitaker's Almanack 1883 to 2004, Joseph Whitaker and Sons Ltd/A&C Black, London
  • The above text is partly drawn from the Catholic Encyclopaedia of 1908

{{Bishops of Oxford}}

{{Anglican Bishops & Archbishops - Great Britain}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bishop of Oxford}}

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Category:History of Oxford

Oxford

Category:Diocese of Oxford

Bishops of Oxford