The Rt Rev Wilfred Wood KA, who has been Bishop of Croydon since 1985 is to retire on 30 September 2002. He was the first black bishop in the Church of England. Born in Barbados in 1936, Bishop Wilfred was ordained priest in St Paul's Cathedral in 1962 and served his title at St Stephen's Shepherd's Bush. He soon became well known for speaking out on racial justice. He moved to work in the Diocese of Southwark in 1974 and his ministry has been within the Diocese ever since. In 1977 he was appointed Rural Dean of East Lewisham and an Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral. He was Archdeacon of Southwark from 1982 until his consecration as Bishop of Croydon in 1985.

In his long ministry Bishop Wilfred has always been a champion for racial justice, moderating and serving on many committees. When in 1968 the Wilson government was planning to replace the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants (NCCI) with a Community Relations Commission, Bishop Wilfred and colleagues submitted proposals that came to be known as 'the Wood Proposals', calling for some members to be directly elected by minority ethnic associations.

In 1992 he sponsored with the then Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev David Sheppard, a new set of race equality principles for employers, which became known as the Wood-Sheppard Principles. He was Moderator of the Southwark Diocesan Race Relations Commission from its beginning until its recent incorporation into the newly formed Southwark Diocesan Committee for Minority Ethnic Concerns. In addition, he served as Moderator of the World Council of Churches Programme to Combat Racism.

On 30 November 2000 (Barbados Independence Day) the Queen approved Bishop's Wilfred's Appointment as Knight of St Andrew (Order of Barbados) 'for his contribution to race relations in the United Kingdom and general contribution to the welfare of Barbadians living here'.

Bishop Wilfred comments: "In cricketing parlance, the umpires have upheld my appeal against the light! But the innings has not closed so someone else will take my place at the wicket. There is everything to play for in helping the Church to be an effective witness to human solidarity because of Christ's love for us all, and in the creation of a truly multi-ethnic, multi-cultural Britain, in which Afro-Britons, Euro-Britons, Asian Britons, double-ethnic Britons and all other Britons thank God for one another, and glory in the diversity which God has so generously given us."

In announcing Bishop Wilfred's retirement the Rt Rev Tom Butler, the Bishop of Southwark, said: "Bishop Wilfred has had a challenging and distinguished ministry in which he has championed the cause of equality and helped to move our Church and our society forward. His contribution to church life here in Southwark and throughout this country has been enormous. He is a wise pastor and generous Bishop. The importance of Bishop Wilfred's work for racial justice has been recognised by the Queen and will long be remembered in Southwark as a guiding light for our continued work aimed at ensuring the equal participation of all in the structures of our Church and society. We will miss his counsel greatly."

Further details of the events to mark Bishop Wilfred's retirement will follow in the early part of next year.

Photographs available on request.

A brief biography follows:

The Rt Rev Dr Wilfred Wood KA, Bishop of Croydon

Born, Barbados 15 June 1936
1961 Ordained deacon, Barbados, under Letters Dimissary from the Bishop of London
1962 Ordained priest in St Paul's Cathedral, he served his title at St Stephen's, Shepherd's Bush, Diocese of London.
1967 Bishop's Officer for Race Relations and Honorary Curate St Stephen's Shepherd's Bush, London.
1974 Vicar of St Laurence, Catford (Southwark Diocese)
1977 Appointed Rural Dean of East Lewisham and Honorary Canon of the Southwark Cathedral
1982 Archdeacon of Southwark
1985 Consecration as Bishop of Croydon
2000 Knight of St Andrew (Order of Barbados)

Has served on: World Council of Churches Programme to Combat Racism (Moderator); Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure; Board of the Housing Corporation; member of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Commission on Urban Priority Areas.
Board member and Vice Chairman of Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust; First Chairman of General Synod's Committee for Black Anglican Concerns.

Honorary Doctorate in Divinity from General Theological Seminary, New York, 1986. Honorary Doctorate from Open University, 2000.
Other roles
1981-1985 Justice of Peace Magistrate on the West London Bench
1972-1974 Chairman of the Institute of Race Relations (President since 1992)
1978 Chairman of the Martin Luther King Memorial Trust
1986 President, Royal Philanthropic / Rainer Society
Founder-member of a number of housing associations, and President or Patron of more than 25 community and charitable organisations.

Publications:
1966 Contribution to (among others) 'The Committed Church' edited by Bright and Clements (Darton, Longman and Todd)
1968 Vicious Circle with J Downing (SPCK)
1994 Keep the Faith Baby (BRF)

Married to Ina (also from Barbados) and they have five children and three grandchildren.
Particular interests: racial justice, health, housing and criminal justice issues. Self-help initiatives in minority ethnic communities.

Ends.

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