Diocesan Press
Release
NEW BISHOP OF SOUTHWARK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17 March 1998
The Queen has nominated the Rt Rev Dr Thomas Frederick Butler, Bishop of
Leicester, to succeed the Rt Rev Robert (Roy) Williamson as the Bishop of Southwark, it
was announced today.
Bishop Thomas Butler, has been the Bishop of Leicester since 1991, but he is not new to London. Prior to his appointment as the Bishop of Leicester he served as the Bishop of Willesden from 1985 to 1991. He also served as the Archdeacon of Northolt for the preceding six years. Although north of the Thames can seem like another country to those from south of it, many of the issues to be faced are London wide and he will be well prepared to begin to address these.
Born in 1940 Bishop Thomas is a scientist by background having gained a Masters and Doctorate in electronics. He trained for ordination with the Mirfield Fathers at the College of the Resurrection in Yorkshire. Having been ordained in 1964 he spent three years as a curate in the Ely and Canterbury Dioceses, before spending twelve years as a lecturer in electronics and a chaplain at the University of Zambia and then at the University of Kent at Canterbury. During this period he was on the staff of Lusaka and Canterbury Cathedrals respectively.
Speaking about his forthcoming move back to London Bishop Thomas said:
'The Diocese of Southwark has had a long tradition of being a forward looking Diocese relating the traditional faith of the Church to the realities of contemporary life. I believe that the Diocese has an important part to play as London appoints a Mayor and moves into the new Millennium. I look forward to being involved in its life at this significant time.'
He is married to Barbara, who is the Executive Secretary of Christians Aware, a charity which is involved in education and development and they have two grown up children.
Bishop Thomas has been active at national level and until 1995 he chaired the follow-up to 'Faith in the City', which published the controversial 'Staying in the City' report. He now chairs the General Synod's Board of Mission, The Churches Human Rights Forum and the Governors of Ripon College Cuddesdon. He serves as the General Synod representative on the Inner Cities Religious Council which is an initiative set up by the Department of the Environment. Twelve months ago he entered the House of Lords.
Bishop Thomas is a regular contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day and has taken part in other national and local TV and radio programmes. He has also co-authored two books with his wife 'Just Mission' and 'Just Spirituality in a World of Faiths'.
He likes to keep fit and in 1992 completed the London Marathon, once again with Barbara raising money for the Church Urban Fund and Christians Aware.
Bishop Thomas will be enthroned in Southwark Cathedral in the early autumn.
Ends.
Further biographical details
Born in 1940
Educated at King Edward School, Five Ways, Birmingham
University of Leeds, gaining a BSc (1961), MSc (1962) and Phd (1972) in Electronics
1962 Ordination Training at the College of the Resurrection, West Yorkshire
1964 -1966 Ordained Deacon to serve title at Wisbech, St Augustine in the Diocese of Ely
1965 Ordained Priest
1966 -1968 Curate Folkestone, St Saviour in the Diocese of Canterbury
1968 -1973 Lecturer in Electronics and Chaplain at the University of Zambia
1971 Dean of Lusaka Cathedral
1973 - 1980 Lecturer in Electronics and Chaplain at the University of Kent at Canterbury
1979 - 1984 Six Preacher at Canterbury Cathedral
1980 Archdeacon of Northolt in the Diocese of London
1985 Area Bishop of Willesden in the London Diocese
1991 Bishop of Leicester
Ends.