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NEW ARCHDEACON OF SOUTHWARK

2 July 2004

The Rev Canon Dr Michael Ipgrave is to be the new Archdeacon of Southwark in the Diocese of Southwark. He succeeds the Ven Douglas Bartles-Smith, who retired at the end of 2003. He will take up his post on 1 November 2004.

Michael Ipgrave, 46, is the Inter Faith Relations Adviser to the Archbishop's Council and Secretary of the Churches Commission on Inter Faith Relations. Prior to this his ministry had been spent mostly in the Leicester Diocese where he was Bishop's Adviser on Inter Faith Relations from 1990 - 1999, combining this with parish ministry. Michael is married to Julia Bailey and they have three sons.

Mr Ipgrave has taught inter faith issues on the East Midlands Ministry Training Course and arranged inter faith weeks for Ripon College, Cuddesdon. He spent two years as Assistant priest in Chiba, Yokohama Diocese, Japan (the Diocese of Leicester's Link Diocese) and has helped to maintain the Diocesan companion link. He is the author of numerous books on inter faith issues. He became an Honorary Canon of Leicester Cathedral in 1994.

Commenting on his new appointment, Michael Ipgrave said, 'I am looking forward to working in Southwark Diocese and in the Southwark Archdeaconry in particular, I know this to be a varied and vibrant part of south London and look forward to working with the priests and people in the Archdeaconry as they seek to live out their faith in this urban multi ethnic setting'.

The Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Rev. Dr Tom Butler, comments, 'Michael has a wealth of experience in urban ministry working in inner city Leicester and is an expert on inter faith matters and used to working ecumenically. He is well equipped to deal with the challenges of ministry with the Southwark Archdeaconry and I look forward to the contribution he will make to Southwark Diocese.'

SHORT BIOGRAPHY: the Rev. Canon Dr Michael Geoffrey Ipgrave

Born in Northampton 18 April 1958
1968 - 1975 : educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley, Northants
1975 -1978 : Oriel College, Oxford: BA Mathematics (1st class Hons)
1978 -1979 : Spring Hill Ordination Scheme, Birmingham
1979 - 1982 : Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford: Oxford Certificate in Theology (Distinction)
1981 : Oxford University BA Theology (1st class Hons)
1981 : Married Julia Bailey. 3 Children: Thomas (1982), Francis (1983), Benedict (1987)
1982 : Ordained Deacon. 1983: Ordained Priest
1982 - 1985 : Assistant Curate Oakham with Hambleton and Egleton, and Braunston with Brooke, Diocese of Peterborough
1985 -1987 : Assistant Priest, Church of the Resurrection, Chiba, Diocese of Yokohama, Japan
1987 - 1990 : Team Vicar, Parish of Ascension, Diocese of Leicester
1990 - 1999 : Bishop's Adviser on Inter Faith Relations, Diocese of Leicester
1990 - 1993 : Assistant Priest, Parish of Holy Spirit, Leicester
1992 - 1993 : Priest in Charge, St Mary de Castro, Leicester
1993 - 1994 : Team Vicar, Parish of Holy Spirit, Leicester
1994 - 1999 : Team Rector, Parish of Holy Spirit, Leicester
1992 - 1999 : Research Assistant and Chaplain to the Bishop of Leicester
1999 - : Inter faith Relations Adviser, Archbishops' Council
1999 - : Secretary, Churches' Commission on Inter Faith Relations
1999 - : Hon. Assistant Priest, Parish of the Presentation, Leicester

PUBLICATIONS

1994

Christ in Ten Thousand Places: A Catholic Perspective on Christian Encounter with Other Faiths (London: DLT)

1998

'Heiwa no Utsuwa: Vessels of Peace', in Barbara Butler ed, Open Hands: Reconciliation, Justice and Peace Work Around the World (Bury St Edmunds: Kevin Mayhew)

1999

(ed) Who is Jesus in a World of Many Faiths? (London: CTBI)

2001

(ed) Sharing One Hope? The Church of England and Christian- Jewish Relations (London: CHP)

Religious Discrimination: A Christian Response (London:CTBI)

'Religious Freedom: A Christian Perspective from Britain', in Rahim Nobahar, ed, Human Rights and Dialogue of Civilisations (Qom: Mofid University Press)

2002

'Experiencing Japanese Spirituality', in Philip Endean SJ, ed, Spirituality Across Borders (Oxford: The Way)

(ed) The Road Ahead: A Christian-Muslim Dialogue (London:CHP)

2003

'God and Inter Faith Relations: Some attitudes among British Christians' in Viggo Mortenson, ed, Theology and the Religions: A Dialogue (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)

'Reflections on Conversion in Inter Faith Contexts', in Dagmar Heller (ed), Bekehrung und Identität (Frankfurt: Otto Lembeck)

Trinity and Inter Faith Dialogue: Plentitude and Plurality (Bern: Peter Lang)

2004

'Fidei Defensor Revisited: Church and State in Religiously Plural Society', in Nazila Ghanea (ed), The Challenge of Religious Discrimination at the Dawn of the New Millennium (Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff)

(ed) Scriptures in Dialogue: Christians and Muslims Studying the Bible and the Qur'an Together (London: CHP)

2001
Editor of Inter Faith Exchange, an occasional newsletter for Christians engaged in inter faith work

NOTE: An Archdeacon is a senior member of the clergy, responsible to the diocesan bishop for an area. The archdeacon usually inducts new incumbents into their parishes, shares the pastoral care of the clergy and does much practical, legal and administrative work.
The Archdeaconry of Southwark comprises the four Rural Deaneries of Bermondsey (7 parishes), Camberwell (8 parishes), Dulwich (7 parishes), and Southwark and Newington (11 parishes).

PHOTOGRAPHS of the new Archdeacon are available on request.

Ends

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