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CONSECRATION AND COMMISSIONING OF tHE vEN rICHARD cHEETHAM AS 11TH Bishop Of kingston

15 October 2002

On Thursday 17 October, at Southwark Cathedral the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev Dr George Carey, will consecrate the Ven Richard Cheetham, the Archdeacon of St Albans, as Bishop of Kingston. It will be the Archbishop’s last consecration before he retires later this month. The Area Bishop of Kingston in the Diocese of Southwark assists the Diocesan Bishop in the oversight and pastoral care of parishes in south-west London.

Two other bishops will also be consecrated at this service. Canon David Hawkins, currently Rector of St George's Church in Leeds, is to be Bishop of Barking in the Diocese of Chelmsford, and Canon David Hamid, Director of Ecumenical Affairs and Studies for the Anglican Consultative Council since 1996, is to be the next Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese in Europe.

On Sunday 27 October the newly consecrated Bishop of Kingston will be installed at Southwark Cathedral, in the presence of local mayors and community leaders.

Then on 31 October Bishop Richard will be welcomed to his new Area at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham. This service will provide an opportunity for clergy and lay from the parishes to welcome and meet their new Bishop. In addition local MPs, the heads of church schools will be there to greet him at the start of his new ministry.

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, says: “It is good to have Bishop Richard joining the team here in Southwark. The churches of the Kingston Area and the whole Diocese will benefit greatly from his wisdom and pastoral experience.”

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Born 1955.
Brought up in Surbiton, where his parents still live.
Attended Kingston Grammar School between 1966 and 1974.
Open Exhibition to Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Graduated in 1977, with a Joint Honours degree in Physics and Philosophy. Oxford Hockey Blue and an under 19 player for England.
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
Taught science at a large comprehensive school in Richmond, North Yorkshire, (1978-1980).
Assistant Physics Master at Eton College, Windsor (1980-1983).
Investment analyst in London.
1985 Ripon College, Cuddesdon Certificate in Theology.
1987 he was ordained deacon, served title at Holy Cross Church, Newcastle. Ordained priest in 1988.
1990 Vicar of St Augustine of Canterbury, Limbury, Luton in the Diocese of St Albans.
Rural Dean of Luton from 1995 –1998.
1999 PhD from King’s College London (‘The nature and status of religious belief in contemporary Britain [with particular reference to the concept of ‘truth’] as reflected by acts of collective worship in a sample of Luton schools since the 1988 Education Reform Act’.)
February 1999 Archdeacon of St Albans.
Married to Felicity one daughter and one son.
He still plays hockey and squash regularly. His other interests include cinema and walking.

Ends.

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468