Pete Wilcox
Pete Wilcox | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Sheffield | |
 Official portrait, 2023 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Sheffield |
| In office | 5 June 2017 – present |
| Predecessor | Steven Croft |
| Other post(s) | Dean of Liverpool (2012–2017) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1987 (deacon); 1988 (priest) by David Jenkins |
| Consecration | 22 June 2017 by John Sentamu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Jonathan Wilcox 10 October 1961 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Residence | Bishopscroft, Ranmoor[1] |
| Spouse | Catherine Fox |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Durham Ridley Hall, Cambridge St John's College, Oxford |
| Member of the House of Lords (Lord Spiritual) | |
| Assumed office 17 January 2023 | |
Peter Jonathan Wilcox (born 10 October 1961) is a British Anglican bishop. Since June 2017, he has been the bishop of Sheffield in the Church of England. He was previously the dean of Liverpool from 2012 to 2017.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Wilcox was born on 10 October 1961[3] and attended Worksop College in north Nottinghamshire before studying at Durham University where he was a member of St John's College. He graduated from Durham with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1984. He then attended Ridley Hall, Cambridge, where he trained for ordination and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA degree in theology in 1986. Later, he returned to Durham for post-graduate study and completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1991. He then attended St John's College, Oxford, and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1993.[1] His doctoral thesis was titled "Restoration, Reformation and the progress of the kingdom of Christ : evangelisation in the thought and practice of John Calvin, 1555–1564".[4]
Ordained ministry
[edit]He was ordained a deacon at Petertide (28 June) 1987[5] and a priest the next Petertide (26 June 1988)[6] — both times by Bishop David Jenkins at Durham Cathedral; his first post was a curacy in Preston-on-Tees. From 1990 to 1993, while undertaking post-graduate study, he was a non-stipendiary minister at St Giles' Church, Oxford, and St Margaret's Church, Oxford.[1] He was team vicar of Gateshead from 1993 to 1998 when he became the director of the Urban Mission Centre, Cranmer Hall, Durham. He was priest in charge of St Paul's Walsall from 1998 before becoming the canon chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral in 2006.[7] He was installed as the dean of Liverpool Cathedral on 15 September 2012.
Episcopal ministry
[edit]On 7 April 2017, it was announced that Wilcox was to become the next bishop of Sheffield, to be consecrated on 22 June[8] and take up the role in autumn 2017.[9] He was elected to the see by the college of canons of Sheffield Cathedral on 5 May 2017 and his election confirmed at York Minster on 5 June 2017.[10] On 22 June 2017, he was consecrated a bishop by Archbishop John Sentamu at York Minster.[11] On 23 September 2017, he was installed as the bishop of Sheffield during a service at Sheffield Cathedral.[12]
Wilcox is a trustee of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, where he trained for ordination.[13]
On 17 January 2023, Wilcox was admitted to the House of Lords as a Lord Spiritual.[14]
Views
[edit]In 2023, following the news that the House of Bishop's of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter which stated:[15]
many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.[15]
He voted against introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.[16][17]
Personal life
[edit]Wilcox is married to Catherine Fox,[18] a writer and a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.[19] They have two children.[18]
In 2017, Wilcox was diagnosed with and treated for colon cancer. This resulted in a permanent colostomy but Wilcox otherwise made a full recovery.[20]
Styles
[edit]- The Reverend Pete Wilcox (1988–1993)
- The Reverend Doctor Pete Wilcox (1993–2006)
- The Reverend Canon Doctor Pete Wilcox (2006–2012)
- The Very Reverend Doctor Pete Wilcox (2012 – 5 June 2017)
- The Reverend Doctor Pete Wilcox (5 June 2017 – 22 June 2017)
- The Right Reverend Doctor Pete Wilcox (22 June 2017 – present)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Peter Jonathan Wilcox". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ "Pete Wilcox is to be the next Dean of Liverpool". Liverpool Cathedral. March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Peter Wilcox". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Thesis record, Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
- ^ "Ordinations: Durham". Church Times. No. 6490. 3 July 1987. p. 13. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Ordinations: Durham". Church Times. No. 6542. 1 July 1988. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 April 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Dean of Liverpool". HM Government. 7 March 2012.
- ^ Diocese of Sheffield — Consecration of Pete Wilcox, 22 June 2017 (Accessed 6 May 2017)
- ^ "Bishop of Sheffield Announced". Diocese of Sheffield. Diocese of Sheffield. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ "A new bishop-elect..." Diocese of Sheffield. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "New Bishop of Sheffield to be consecrated at York Minster". ITV News. 22 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Installation of the Eighth Bishop of Sheffield at Sheffield Cathedral". Diocese of Sheffield. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox: Trustee". Ridley Hall. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: Parliamentary career". MPs and Lords. UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.
- ^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Dean Very Rev Dr Pete Wilcox". People. Liverpool Cathedral. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "Dr Catherine Wilcox". Staff profiles. Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- ^ "My colon cancer has been good for me, Bishop of Sheffield tells his diocese". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- What Can the Church Contribute to the Common Good? on YouTube a lecture given in 2019
