Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon
Encyclopedia
Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon (born 1927) was, amongst other Episcopal
appointments, the Anglican Bishop
of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.
and Dorothy, the daughter of Charles Silvester Horne
, M.P.
: his great grandfather Lord Cozens Hardy
was Master of the Rolls
from 1907 until 1918. He was educated at Rugby School
and Balliol College, Oxford
(Organ Scholar) BA 1950, MA 1952 before studying for ordination at Cuddesdon College
.
in the East End of London Gordon returned to his theological college
as Chaplain
in 1955. After four years he moved to Birmingham, firstly as a Parish Priest
and latterly as a Canon Residentiary at the Cathedral
. After 12 years in the city
he returned to his alma mater as Vicar of the University
church.
In 1975 he was appointed to be Bishop of Portsmouth, a role he was to hold for 9 years, elevation to the House of Lords coming in 1981. He was head of the Archbishop of Canterbury
’s staff as Bishop at Lambeth
from 1984 until 1991, and additionally Bishop to the Forces
1985-90. From 1991 until 1996 he was Sub-Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
.
committees: namely the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches and the Oxford Mission. He was also formerly a member of the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved
.
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
appointments, the Anglican Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Portsmouth from 1975 to 1984.
Early years
Gordon was the son of the distinguished diplomat Sir Archibald Gordon, CMGOrder of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
and Dorothy, the daughter of Charles Silvester Horne
Charles Silvester Horne
Charles Silvester Horne was a famous late 19th century and early 20th century Congregationalist who additionally served as Liberal M.P. for Ipswich....
, M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
: his great grandfather Lord Cozens Hardy
Herbert Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy
Herbert Hardy Cozens-Hardy, 1st Baron Cozens-Hardy was a British politician and Master of the Rolls from 1907 until 1918.-Early life:...
was Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
from 1907 until 1918. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
(Organ Scholar) BA 1950, MA 1952 before studying for ordination at Cuddesdon College
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
.
Priest and bishop
After a curacyCurate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in the East End of London Gordon returned to his theological college
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
as Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in 1955. After four years he moved to Birmingham, firstly as a Parish Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and latterly as a Canon Residentiary at the Cathedral
St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham
The Cathedral Church of Saint Philip is the Church of England cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Birmingham. Built as a parish church and consecrated in 1715, St Philip's became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham in the West Midlands in 1905...
. After 12 years in the city
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
he returned to his alma mater as Vicar of the University
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew...
church.
In 1975 he was appointed to be Bishop of Portsmouth, a role he was to hold for 9 years, elevation to the House of Lords coming in 1981. He was head of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
’s staff as Bishop at Lambeth
Bishop at Lambeth
The Bishop at Lambeth is a position within the hierarchy of the Church of England. It is a non-diocesan appointment in which an experienced bishop acts as head of staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury.-Past and present bishops:-References:...
from 1984 until 1991, and additionally Bishop to the Forces
Bishop to the Forces
The Anglican church in the British Armed Forces falls under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury, however for all practical purposes the function is performed by the Bishop to the Forces. His full title is "The Archbishop of Canterbury's Episcopal Representative to the Armed Forces"...
1985-90. From 1991 until 1996 he was Sub-Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
.
Retirement
Since retiring in 1991 he has returned to Oxford where he still preaches and serves on a variety of Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
committees: namely the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches and the Oxford Mission. He was also formerly a member of the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved
Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved
The Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved is an appellate court within the hierarchy of ecclesiastical courts of the Church of England. Hearing cases involving church doctrine, ceremony, or ritual, the Court has jurisdiction over both the Province of Canterbury and the Province of York...
.