David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes
Encyclopedia
David Michael Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes KCVO
PC
(born 14 April 1940) was the Archbishop of York
in the Church of England
from 1995 to 2005.
, an Anglo-Catholic church in the West End of London
from 1982 to 1985 before becoming the Bishop of Wakefield
from 1985 and then the Bishop of London
from 1991. Hope was Master of the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
from 1982 to 1993.
alleged in the same year that Hope was gay as part of a much criticised OutRage!
"outing" campaign, Hope said that his sexuality is "a grey area" and that he had "sought to lead a celibate life" and is "perfectly happy and content". On 26 October 1995 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), an honour in the personal gift of the Queen. Hope was one of four English bishops who declined to sign the Cambridge Accord
: an attempt in 1999 to find agreement on affirming certain human rights of homosexuals, notwithstanding differences within the church on the morality of homosexual behaviour. On 30 June 2004, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury
, Rowan Williams
, and on behalf of all 114 Anglican bishops, he wrote to Tony Blair
expressing deep concern about Government
policy and criticising the coalition
troops' conduct in Iraq
. The letter cited the abuse of Iraqi detainees, which was described as having been "deeply damaging", and stated that the government's apparent double standards "diminish the credibility of western governments". (BBC) (The Scotsman)
On 1 August 2004 it was announced that Hope would step down as archbishop to become the vicar
of St Margaret's Church in Ilkley
. He did so on 28 February 2005. Not long before he retired as archbishop the Queen pointedly attended a service at York Minster – seen by many as a mark of the regard in which she held Hope.
announced on 25 January 2005 that he had accepted a life peerage; the title was gazetted
as Baron Hope of Thornes, of Thornes in the County of West Yorkshire
, on 6 April 2005 (dated 31 March 2005). On 4 August 2006 he was appointed to the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved
for a period of five years. On 10 September 2006, Hope announced his resignation as vicar of St Margaret's, Ilkley, due to ill health. He stated that he intended to continue to work a three day week at St Margaret's until the end of 2006, but after that would serve as an honorary assistant bishop
in the Diocese of Bradford
. On 1 October 2007 it was announced that he would also serve as an honorary assistant bishop for the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe
.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 14 April 1940) was the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
in the Church of England
Church 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...
from 1995 to 2005.
Early career
Hope was ordained deacon in 1965 and priest in 1966. He was the Principal of St Stephen's House, an Anglo-Catholic theological college in Oxford, from 1974 to-1982. He was Vicar of All Saints, Margaret StreetAll Saints, Margaret Street
All Saints, Margaret Street is an Anglican church in London built in the High Victorian Gothic style by the architect William Butterfield and completed in 1859....
, an Anglo-Catholic church in the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
from 1982 to 1985 before becoming the Bishop of Wakefield
Bishop of Wakefield
The Bishop of Wakefield is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Wakefield in the Province of York.The diocese based in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, covers Wakefield, Barnsley, Kirklees and Calderdale...
from 1985 and then the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
from 1991. Hope was Master of the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Walsingham
Our Lady of Walsingham is a title used for Mary, the mother of Jesus. The title derives from the belief that Mary appeared in a vision to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Saxon noblewoman, in 1061 in the village of Walsingham in Norfolk, England...
from 1982 to 1993.
Archbishop of York
Hope was enthroned as Archbishop of York on 8 December 1995. After Peter TatchellPeter Tatchell
Peter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
alleged in the same year that Hope was gay as part of a much criticised OutRage!
OutRage!
OutRage! is a British LGBT rights group that was formed to fight for equal rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people in comparison to heterosexual people. It is a group which has at times been criticised for outing individuals who wanted to keep their homosexuality secret and for being...
"outing" campaign, Hope said that his sexuality is "a grey area" and that he had "sought to lead a celibate life" and is "perfectly happy and content". On 26 October 1995 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), an honour in the personal gift of the Queen. Hope was one of four English bishops who declined to sign the Cambridge Accord
Cambridge Accord
The Cambridge Accord was an attempt to reach agreement on at least the human rights of homosexual people, notwithstanding controversy within the Anglican Communion about Anglican views of homosexuality....
: an attempt in 1999 to find agreement on affirming certain human rights of homosexuals, notwithstanding differences within the church on the morality of homosexual behaviour. On 30 June 2004, together with 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...
, Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, and on behalf of all 114 Anglican bishops, he wrote to Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
expressing deep concern about Government
Politics of the United Kingdom
The politics of the United Kingdom takes place within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government...
policy and criticising the coalition
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
troops' conduct in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The letter cited the abuse of Iraqi detainees, which was described as having been "deeply damaging", and stated that the government's apparent double standards "diminish the credibility of western governments". (BBC) (The Scotsman)
On 1 August 2004 it was announced that Hope would step down as archbishop to become the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Margaret's Church in Ilkley
Ilkley
Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the metropolitan borough of Bradford. Approximately north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe...
. He did so on 28 February 2005. Not long before he retired as archbishop the Queen pointedly attended a service at York Minster – seen by many as a mark of the regard in which she held Hope.
Later years
In recognition of his contribution to the church, Downing StreetDowning Street
Downing Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
announced on 25 January 2005 that he had accepted a life peerage; the title was gazetted
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
as Baron Hope of Thornes, of Thornes in the County of West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, on 6 April 2005 (dated 31 March 2005). On 4 August 2006 he was appointed to 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...
for a period of five years. On 10 September 2006, Hope announced his resignation as vicar of St Margaret's, Ilkley, due to ill health. He stated that he intended to continue to work a three day week at St Margaret's until the end of 2006, but after that would serve as an honorary assistant bishop
Assistant Bishop
An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop.-Church of England:In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually are retired bishops – in which case they are honorary assistant bishops...
in the Diocese of Bradford
Diocese of Bradford
The Diocese of Bradford is a Church of England diocese within the Province of York. The Diocese covers the area of the City of Bradford, Craven district and the former Sedbergh Rural District now in Cumbria....
. On 1 October 2007 it was announced that he would also serve as an honorary assistant bishop for the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe
Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe
The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe is geographically the largest diocese of the Church of England and arguably the largest diocese in the Anglican Communion, covering some one-sixth of the Earth's landmass, including Morocco, Europe , Turkey, and the territory of the former Soviet...
.
Styles and titles
- David Hope Esq (1940–1965)
- Dr David Hope (1965)
- The Revd Dr David Hope (1965–1985)
- The Rt Revd Dr David Hope (1985–1991)
- The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dr David Hope (1991–1995)
- The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr David Hope KCVO (1995–2005)
- The Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Hope of Thornes KCVO PC (2005–present)