Alastair Redfern

Redfern studied at Christ Church, Oxford.[3] He received a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 2001 from the University of Bristol.[4][5][6] His doctoral thesis was titled "Oversight and authority in the nineteenth century church of England: a case study of Bishop Samuel Wilberforce".[6]

Redfern was ordained a deacon at Petertide 1976 (27 June)[7] and a priest the following Petertide (26 June 1977), both times by Kenneth Skelton, Bishop of Lichfield, at Lichfield Cathedral.[8] He served as a curate in Wolverhampton.[9] He then became a lecturer and later vice principal of Ripon College Cuddesdon.[10] He was also an honorary curate of Church of All Saints, Cuddesdon between 1983 and 1987.[9] From 1987 to 1997 he was the Canon Theologian of Bristol Cathedral.

Episcopal ministry

Bishop Redfern in 2018

He was ordained and consecrated to the episcopate on 2 December 1997 at Southwark Cathedral[11] (by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury)[12] to become suffragan Bishop of Grantham. In 2005, he was translated to be the Bishop of Derby. He was a Member (Lord Spiritual) of the House of Lords from 2010 to 2018.[13]

Redfern retired effective 31 August 2018.[14]

In 1974, Redfern married Jane Valerie Straw.[13] Together they had two daughters.[13] His first wife died in 2004.[13] In 2006, he married Caroline Boddington.[15] who at the time worked for the Church of England as the Archbishops' Secretary for Appointments.[15][16] She retired in 2021.

• The Reverend Alastair Redfern (1976–1987)
• The Reverend Canon Alastair Redfern (1987–1997)
• The Right Reverend Alastair Redfern (1997–2001)
• The Right Reverend Doctor Alastair Redfern (2001–present)

• Media related to Alastair Redfern at Wikimedia Commons