Robert Freeman (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert John Freeman BS MA (born 26 October 1952) is, since 2011, the Bishop of Penrith
in the Church of England
Diocese of Carlisle
. Previously, he was the Archdeacon of Halifax
(in the Diocese of Wakefield
) from 2003 until 2011.
, then at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
where he trained for the Anglican ministry
at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
.
at St John's Church, Blackpool
in the Diocese of Blackburn
from 1977 to 1981. His next appointments were Team Vicar
at Chigwell
in the Diocese of Chelmsford
from 1981 to 1985, and Vicar
of the Church of the Martyrs, Leicester
in Diocese of Leicester
from 1985 to 1999. Between 1994 to 2003, he was an Honorary Canon at Leicester Cathedral
. During that period he was Rural Dean
of Christianity South from 1995 to 1998, and National Advisor in Evangelism
for the Archbishops' Council
from 1999 to 2003. From 2003 to 2011 he was Archdeacon of Halifax in the Diocese of Wakefield
.
Until recently he was Chair of the Christian Enquiry Agency and continues to be the Chair of the innovative rejesus.co.uk.
by Elizabeth II on 10 June 2011, in succession to the Right Reverend James Newcome who had translated
as Bishop
of the Diocese of Carlisle
on 31 July 2009. He was consecrated on 28 October 2011 at York Minster
.
development], walking and travelling, classic Motown, electric blues
and rock
, computer games, reluctant gardening, reading crime and action-adventure fiction.
Bishop of Penrith
The Bishop of Penrith is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name from the town of Penrith in Cumbria and was first created under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534.-List of the Bishops of...
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...
Diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
. Previously, he was the Archdeacon of Halifax
Archdeacon of Halifax
The archdeacon of Halifax is the priest in charge of the archdeaconry of Halifax, an administrative division of the Church of England Diocese of Wakefield.-History:...
(in the Diocese of Wakefield
Diocese of Wakefield
The Diocese of Wakefield is a Church of England diocese based in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, covering Wakefield, Barnsley, Kirklees and Calderdale...
) from 2003 until 2011.
Education
He was educated at St John's College, DurhamSt John's College, Durham
St John's College is a college of the University of Durham, United Kingdom. It is one of only two 'Recognised Colleges' of the University, the other being St Chad's. This means that it is financially and constitutionally independent of the University and has a greater degree of administrative...
, then at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Fitzwilliam College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge in England.The college traces its origins back to 1869 and the foundation of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, a venture intended to offer students from less financially privileged backgrounds a chance to study...
where he trained for the Anglican ministry
Anglican ministry
The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. "Ministry" commonly refers to the office of ordained clergy: the threefold order of bishops, priests and deacons. More accurately, Anglican ministry includes many laypeople who devote themselves...
at Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall is a theological college located in Sidgwick Avenue in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, which trains intending ministers for the Church of England and other churches. It was founded in 1881 and named in memory of Nicholas Ridley, a leading protestant theologian of the sixteenth century...
.
Priestly career
His first pastoral appointment was as a curateCurate
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...
at St John's Church, Blackpool
St John's Church, Blackpool
The Church of Saint John the Evangelist or St John's Church is an Anglican church in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It was completed in 1878 and is a Grade II listed building. A church was built on the site in 1821 and was replaced by the current building to accommodate a larger congregation...
in the Diocese of Blackburn
Diocese of Blackburn
The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created in 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The Diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, and the cities of Lancaster, and Preston, as well as a large part of the Ribble Valley...
from 1977 to 1981. His next appointments were Team Vicar
Vicar (Anglicanism)
Vicar is the title given to certain parish priests in the Church of England. It has played a significant role in Anglican Church organisation in ways that are different from other Christian denominations. The title is very old and arises from the medieval situation where priests were appointed...
at Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
in the Diocese of Chelmsford
Diocese of Chelmsford
The Diocese of Chelmsford is a Church of England diocese, part of the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers Essex and the five East London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest, and is co-terminous with the boundaries of the Catholic Diocese of...
from 1981 to 1985, and 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 the Church of the Martyrs, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in Diocese of Leicester
Diocese of Leicester
The Diocese of Leicester is a Church of England diocese based in Leicester and including the current county of Leicestershire. The cathedral is Leicester Cathedral, where the Bishop of Leicester has his seat....
from 1985 to 1999. Between 1994 to 2003, he was an Honorary Canon at Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Martin, Leicester is a Church of England cathedral in the English city of Leicester, and the seat of the Bishop of Leicester...
. During that period he was Rural Dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
of Christianity South from 1995 to 1998, and National Advisor in Evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
for the Archbishops' Council
Archbishops' Council
The Archbishops' Council is a part of the governance structures of the Church of England. Its headquarters are at Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ....
from 1999 to 2003. From 2003 to 2011 he was Archdeacon of Halifax in the Diocese of Wakefield
Diocese of Wakefield
The Diocese of Wakefield is a Church of England diocese based in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, covering Wakefield, Barnsley, Kirklees and Calderdale...
.
Until recently he was Chair of the Christian Enquiry Agency and continues to be the Chair of the innovative rejesus.co.uk.
Episcopal career
He was nominated Bishop of PenrithBishop of Penrith
The Bishop of Penrith is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle, in the Province of York, England. The title takes its name from the town of Penrith in Cumbria and was first created under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534.-List of the Bishops of...
by Elizabeth II on 10 June 2011, in succession to the Right Reverend James Newcome who had translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
as Bishop
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
of the Diocese of Carlisle
Diocese of Carlisle
The Diocese of Carlisle was created in 1133 by Henry I out of part of the Diocese of Durham, although many people of Celtic descent in the area looked to Glasgow for spiritual leadership. The first bishop was Æthelwold, formerly the king's confessor and now prior of the Augustinian priory at...
on 31 July 2009. He was consecrated on 28 October 2011 at 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...
.
Personal life
He is married to Chris, and they have three daughters. His interests include time spent with family, computer technology and internetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
development], walking and travelling, classic Motown, electric blues
Electric blues
Electric blues is a type of blues music distinguished by the amplification of the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and often the harmonica. Pioneered in the 1930s, it emerged as a genre in Chicago in the 1940s. It was taken up in many areas of America leading to the development of regional subgenres...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, computer games, reluctant gardening, reading crime and action-adventure fiction.