Wilfred Wood (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Wilfred Denniston Wood, KA
(born June 15, 1936) was Bishop of Croydon
from 1985 to 2003, the first black bishop
in the Church of England
. He came second in the 100 Great Black Britons
list in 2004.
to Wilfred Coward and Elsie Elmira Wood, Wood was ordained a deacon
on the island, then as a priest in St Paul's Cathedral
in 1962, first serving in Shepherd's Bush
. He soon came to wider attention in the United Kingdom for speaking out on racial justice. In 1974 he joined the Diocese of Southwark
, where he stayed until his retirement. In 1977 he was appointed Rural Dean of East Lewisham
and Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral
. He was Archdeacon
of Southwark from 1982 until his consecration as Bishop of Croydon in 1985, where he oversaw the Croydon
Episcopal Area and assisted the Bishop of Southwark
.
Wood was a champion for racial justice, launching several initiatives and serving on many committees. In 1968, Wood and colleagues submitted proposals for the replacement of the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants (NCCI) with a Community Relations Commission that came to be known as 'the Wood Proposals.' The proposals called for some members to be directly elected by minority ethnic associations.
In 1992 he co-sponsored with David Sheppard
, the then Bishop of Liverpool
, a new set of race equality principles for employers which became known as the 'Wood-Sheppard Principles'. He was Moderator of the Southwark Diocesan Race Relations Commission from its foundation. He also served as Moderator of the World Council of Churches
’s Programme to Combat Racism
, known for its work on South Africa
n apartheid. In his last years as Bishop of Croydon, he protested at the honours given to Enoch Powell
upon his death, and about the government and opposition's attitudes to asylum seekers.
Wood was also involved in Croydon life outside of the church, serving as a board member for the local Mayday Hospital for more than ten years, President of the Royal Philanthropic Society
and also Chair of the Tramlink
Penalty Fares Appeals Panel.
Bishop Wilfred Wood also served on the Board of the UK's Housing Corporation from 1986 to 1995 and was a founder-member of a number of housing associations. He served as chairman and later president of the Institute of Race Relations
.
Bishop Wood was made an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Croydon in 2002. He holds honorary doctorates from the Open University
, the University of the West Indies
and the General Theological Seminary, New York, when he was described in the citation as "a wide and trusted defender of the rights of minorities."
appointed Wood a Knight of St Andrew
“for his contribution to race relations in the United Kingdom and general contribution to the welfare of Barbadians living here”.
Wood retired as Bishop of Croydon on September 30, 2002 and was succeeded in 2003 by Nick Baines
. In 2004, Wood was voted by the public as second only to Mary Seacole
on a list of the "100 Great Black Britons."
Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)
The Knight or Dame of St. Andrew is an award within the Order of Barbados.The Order of Barbados was instituted by Letters Patent on July 25, 1980, as part of the Barbados National Honours and Decorations System. The Knight or Dame of St...
(born June 15, 1936) was Bishop of Croydon
Bishop of Croydon
The Bishop of Croydon is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark, in the Province of Canterbury, England....
from 1985 to 2003, the first black 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...
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...
. He came second in the 100 Great Black Britons
100 Great Black Britons
The 100 Great Black Britons list was compiled as a response to the BBC's 100 Greatest Britons debate of .Patrick Vernon, founder of black heritage website Every Generation, pointed out that no black people had made it to the top 100, saying that this was due in part to many people being unaware of...
list in 2004.
Life
Born in BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
to Wilfred Coward and Elsie Elmira Wood, Wood was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on the island, then as a priest in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in 1962, first serving in Shepherd's Bush
Shepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
. He soon came to wider attention in the United Kingdom for speaking out on racial justice. In 1974 he joined the Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
, where he stayed until his retirement. In 1977 he was appointed Rural Dean of East Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
and Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
. He was Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Southwark from 1982 until his consecration as Bishop of Croydon in 1985, where he oversaw the Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
Episcopal Area and assisted the Bishop of Southwark
Bishop of Southwark (Anglican)
The Bishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark in the Province of Canterbury.Until 1877, Southwark had been part of the Diocese of Winchester when it was transferred to the Diocese of Rochester...
.
Wood was a champion for racial justice, launching several initiatives and serving on many committees. In 1968, Wood and colleagues submitted proposals for the replacement of the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants (NCCI) with a Community Relations Commission that came to be known as 'the Wood Proposals.' The proposals called for some members to be directly elected by minority ethnic associations.
In 1992 he co-sponsored with David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
, the then Bishop of Liverpool
Bishop of Liverpool
The Bishop of Liverpool is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Liverpool in the Province of York.The diocese stretches from Southport in the north, to Widnes in the south, and from the River Mersey to Wigan in the east. Its see is in the City of Liverpool at the Cathedral Church of...
, a new set of race equality principles for employers which became known as the 'Wood-Sheppard Principles'. He was Moderator of the Southwark Diocesan Race Relations Commission from its foundation. He also served as Moderator of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
’s Programme to Combat Racism
Programme to Combat Racism
The Programme to Combat Racism was a controversial political action movement of the World Council of Churches during the 1970s. It funded a number of humanitarian programs of liberation movements while those groups were involved in violent struggle, examples include:* In 1970, Reader's Digest...
, known for its work on South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n apartheid. In his last years as Bishop of Croydon, he protested at the honours given to Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
upon his death, and about the government and opposition's attitudes to asylum seekers.
Wood was also involved in Croydon life outside of the church, serving as a board member for the local Mayday Hospital for more than ten years, President of the Royal Philanthropic Society
Royal Philanthropic Society
The Royal Philanthropic Society had its origins in the St Paul's Coffee House in London in 1788 where a group of men met to discuss the problems of homeless children who were to be found begging and stealing on the streets. The Society began by opening homes where children were trained in cottage...
and also Chair of the Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
Penalty Fares Appeals Panel.
Bishop Wilfred Wood also served on the Board of the UK's Housing Corporation from 1986 to 1995 and was a founder-member of a number of housing associations. He served as chairman and later president of the Institute of Race Relations
Institute of Race Relations
The Institute of Race Relations is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1958 in order to publish research on race relations worldwide, and in 1972 was transformed into an 'anti-racist think tank'....
.
Bishop Wood was made an Honorary Freeman of the London Borough of Croydon in 2002. He holds honorary doctorates from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
and the General Theological Seminary, New York, when he was described in the citation as "a wide and trusted defender of the rights of minorities."
Retirement and honours
On 30 November 2000 – Barbados Independence Day – Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
appointed Wood a Knight of St Andrew
Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)
The Knight or Dame of St. Andrew is an award within the Order of Barbados.The Order of Barbados was instituted by Letters Patent on July 25, 1980, as part of the Barbados National Honours and Decorations System. The Knight or Dame of St...
“for his contribution to race relations in the United Kingdom and general contribution to the welfare of Barbadians living here”.
Wood retired as Bishop of Croydon on September 30, 2002 and was succeeded in 2003 by Nick Baines
Nicholas Baines
Nicholas "Nick" Baines has been the Bishop of Bradford, the diocesan Anglican bishop in the Diocese of Bradford, since 21 May 2011....
. In 2004, Wood was voted by the public as second only to Mary Seacole
Mary Seacole
Mary Jane Seacole , sometimes known as Mother Seacole or Mary Grant, was a Jamaican nurse best known for her involvement in the Crimean War. She set up and operated boarding houses in Panama and the Crimea to assist in her desire to treat the sick...
on a list of the "100 Great Black Britons."