Justin Welby
Encyclopedia
Justin Portal Welby became the Bishop of Durham and the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England
on 29 September 2011. He was previously the Dean
of Liverpool Cathedral
.
(née Portal). His mother remarried, becoming Lady Williams of Elvel, years after his father's death in 1975. He is also related to former Conservative
Deputy Prime Minister Rab Butler
, later Baron Butler of Saffron Walden. His great-grandfather, Sir Montagu Butler, was Lord Butler of Saffron Walden's father and also the father of Welby's grandmother, Iris Butler.
Welby was educated at Eton College
before going to Trinity College, Cambridge
to study law and history. Following graduation he spent 11 years in the oil industry, eventually becoming Group Treasurer of Enterprise Oil PLC
.
) from 1992 to 1995. He then became Rector at St James' Church, Southam and Vicar of Ufton from 1995 until 2002.
In 2002, he was appointed a canon residentiary at Coventry Cathedral
and Co-Director for International Ministry at the International Centre for Reconciliation
. In 2005, he left the latter post when he was appointed Sub-Dean and Canon for Reconciliation Ministry.
Welby was appointed Dean of Liverpool in December 2007 and was installed in a service at Liverpool Cathedral
on 8 December 2007.
Welby has written widely on ethics and on finance, featuring in books such as Managing the Church?: Order and Organization in a Secular Age and Explorations in Financial Ethics. He also wrote a book entitled Can Companies Sin?: "Whether", "How" and "Who" in Company Accountability which was published by Grove Books in 1992.
Interviewed by the BBC in 2011 he said that to become Bishop of Durham was both challenging and a huge privilege: “I was astonished to be offered the role. It is a passionate desire to see a church that is vigorously full of spiritual life, serving Jesus Christ and serving those around it”. His election was confirmed by York Minster
on 29 September 2011 and he left Liverpool Cathedral
on 2 October. He was consecrated at the Minster on 28 October, and will be enthroned Bishop of Durham on 26 November.
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...
on 29 September 2011. He was previously the Dean
Dean of Liverpool
The Dean of Liverpool is based in Liverpool, UK and is head of the Chapter of Liverpool Cathedral.The deanery is currently vacant following the departure in October 2011 of The Very Reverend Justin Welby to become Bishop of Durham. The Acting Dean is the Canon Precentor, the Reverend Canon Myles...
of Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool but it is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
.
Early life and education
Welby was born to Gavin Bernard Welby and his wife, Jane Gillian WelbyJane Williams, Baroness Williams of Elvel
Jane Gillian Williams, Baroness Williams of Elvel DL is the wife of Charles Williams, Baron Williams of Elvel and the mother of the current Dean of Liverpool, the Very Reverend Justin Welby.-References:...
(née Portal). His mother remarried, becoming Lady Williams of Elvel, years after his father's death in 1975. He is also related to former Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Deputy Prime Minister Rab Butler
Rab Butler
Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG CH DL PC , who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician...
, later Baron Butler of Saffron Walden. His great-grandfather, Sir Montagu Butler, was Lord Butler of Saffron Walden's father and also the father of Welby's grandmother, Iris Butler.
Welby was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
before going to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
to study law and history. Following graduation he spent 11 years in the oil industry, eventually becoming Group Treasurer of Enterprise Oil PLC
Enterprise Oil
Enterprise Oil was a major British independent exploration and production company based in Europe, with core areas of activity in Britain and Ireland, mainland Europe, Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico...
.
Ministry
From 1989 to 1992, Welby studied theology and trained for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall and St John's College Durham before becoming a curate at Chilvers Coton with Astley (NuneatonNuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
) from 1992 to 1995. He then became Rector at St James' Church, Southam and Vicar of Ufton from 1995 until 2002.
In 2002, he was appointed a canon residentiary at Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral
Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael's Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth....
and Co-Director for International Ministry at the International Centre for Reconciliation
International Centre for Reconciliation
The International Centre for Reconciliation is based at Coventry Cathedral, UK and was established in 1940 after the destruction of the cathedral in the Second World War. Rather than seek revenge for the devastation caused, the Centre's founders vowed to promote reconciliation in areas of conflict...
. In 2005, he left the latter post when he was appointed Sub-Dean and Canon for Reconciliation Ministry.
Welby was appointed Dean of Liverpool in December 2007 and was installed in a service at Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool but it is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
on 8 December 2007.
Welby has written widely on ethics and on finance, featuring in books such as Managing the Church?: Order and Organization in a Secular Age and Explorations in Financial Ethics. He also wrote a book entitled Can Companies Sin?: "Whether", "How" and "Who" in Company Accountability which was published by Grove Books in 1992.
Interviewed by the BBC in 2011 he said that to become Bishop of Durham was both challenging and a huge privilege: “I was astonished to be offered the role. It is a passionate desire to see a church that is vigorously full of spiritual life, serving Jesus Christ and serving those around it”. His election was confirmed by York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
on 29 September 2011 and he left Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the Church of England cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool and is the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. Its official name is the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool but it is dedicated to Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
on 2 October. He was consecrated at the Minster on 28 October, and will be enthroned Bishop of Durham on 26 November.
Styles
- Mr Justin Welby (1956–1992)
- The Revd Justin Welby (1992–2002)
- The Revd Canon Justin Welby (2002–2007)
- The Very Revd Justin Welby (2007–2011)
- The Rt Revd Justin Welby (2011–present)
External links
- "Is reconciliation with Islam possible?"
- Article featuring Welby's comments on the Archbishop of Canterbury's (Rowan Williams) views about Sharia law
- Article about Welby being featured in Who's Who
- BBC Religion & Ethics section featuring Welby's comments on "Reinventing the cross" as part of his international ministry work at Coventry Cathedral
- House of Lords debate regarding Nigeria. Welby was part of a team researching the ethics of the situation