Christopher Cocksworth

Christopher John Cocksworth (born 12 January 1959) is a Church of England bishop in the open evangelical tradition. Since 2008, he has been Bishop of Coventry. Prior to becoming bishop, he was a university chaplain and the Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge (2001−2008). In June 2023, he was announced as the next Dean of Windsor.

The Right Reverend

Christopher Cocksworth
Bishop of Coventry
The Lord Bishop of Coventry, 2019
DioceseDiocese of Coventry
In office2008–present
PredecessorColin Bennetts
Other post(s)Principal, Ridley Hall, Cambridge (2001–2008)
Chaplain, Royal Holloway, University of London (1992–1997)
Orders
Ordination3 July 1988 (deacon)
by Michael Adie
2 July 1989 (priest)
by David Wilcox
Consecration3 July 2008
by Rowan Williams
Personal details
Born (1959-01-12) 12 January 1959
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
ResidenceBishop's House, Coventry
SpouseCharlotte Pytches
ChildrenFive sons
ProfessionBishop, theologian
Alma materUniversity of Manchester
Member of the House of Lords
(Lord Spiritual)
Assumed office
15 January 2013

Early life and education

He was brought up in Horsham and attended Forest School for Boys and Collyer's Sixth form College, then the University of Manchester where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology with first class honours. In 1989 he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree under the supervision of Richard Bauckham. He studied for ordination at St John's College, Nottingham.

Ordained ministry

Cocksworth was ordained a deacon at Petertide 1988 (3 July) by Michael Adie, Bishop of Guildford,[1] and ordained a priest the following Petertide (2 July 1989) by David Wilcox, Bishop of Dorking — both times at Guildford Cathedral.[2] He served his curacy at Christ Church, Epsom Common in the Diocese of Guildford.[3] In 1992, he moved to become chaplain of Royal Holloway, University of London until 1997. He then became director of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme; a position he relinquished in 2001. He had been made an honorary canon of Guildford Cathedral in 1999. He was later the principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge.[4]

He was a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission from 1999 to 2006, and was involved in revising the ordination services and the Common Worship daily prayer compilation. He is the current chair of the Faith and Order Commission of the General Synod.

Episcopal ministry

His nomination for the appointment as Bishop of Coventry on the retirement of Colin Bennetts was announced on 3 March 2008.[5][6] He was formally elected by the cathedral chapter in May 2008, following the issue of a congé d'elire by Elizabeth II on 6 May 2008.[7] He was consecrated as a bishop on 3 July 2008 in Southwark Cathedral[8] by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury;[9] and was enthroned on 1 November 2008.[10][11] He was the youngest serving diocesan bishop at the time of his appointment,[6] and retained that distinction until late 2014. He entered the House of Lords, as a Lord Spiritual, on 9 November 2012.

He became the Church of England's lead bishop for Higher and Further Education in 2021.[12]

On 20 June 2023, it was announced that Cocksworth had been appointed the next Dean of Windsor, the head of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle which is a royal peculiar.[13][14] He will take up the appointment in November 2023.[15]

Views

Cocksworth is against the extending of marriage to same-sex couples, and supports the Church of England current definition of Holy Matrimony (i.e. the life long union of one man and one woman).[16]

In 2023, following the news that the House of Bishop's of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter which stated:[17]

many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.[17]

During the Church of England's February 2023 General Synod meeting, Cocksworth was one of two bishops in the house to abstain in the successful vote to introduce blessings and prayers for same-sex relationships.[18]

Personal life

He is married to Charlotte, daughter of David Pytches (former diocesan Bishop of Chile, Bolivia & Peru), and they have five sons.

Honours

On 15 July 2009, Cocksworth was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa, of the University of London. The award was conferred by Royal Holloway, University of London, at a ceremony held in the college's chapel. The University of London awards honorary degrees to those of conspicuous merit, outstanding in their field, or those who have given exceptional service to the university. Cocksworth was honoured for his services to education – particularly higher education – and to the church as well as for his service to Royal Holloway.[19]

In 2021 he received the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.[20]

Publications

Cocksworth has written widely on theological matters, with some of his books including:

  • Renewing Daily Prayer: An Introduction to Celebrating Common Prayer (1992)
  • Evangelical Eucharistic Thought in the Church of England (1993)
  • An Anglican Companion, with Alan Wilkinson (1996)
  • Holy, Holy, Holy, Worshipping the Trinitarian God (1997)
  • Prayer and the Departed (1997)
  • Common Worship: An Introduction (2001)
  • Wisdom: The Spirit's Gift (2003)
  • Being a Priest Today: Exploring Priestly Identity, with Rosalind Brown (2002, 2nd ed. 2006)
  • Holding Together: Gospel, Church and Spirit (2008), which was nominated for the 2011 Michael Ramsey Book Prize.[21]

Styles
  • The Reverend Christopher Cocksworth (1988–1989)
  • The Reverend Doctor Christopher Cocksworth (1989–1999)
  • The Reverend Canon Doctor Christopher Cocksworth (1999–2008)
  • The Right Reverend Doctor Christopher Cocksworth (2008–present)

References
  1. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6543. 8 July 1988. p. 13. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  2. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6596. 14 July 1989. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 30 May 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  3. "Cocksworth, Christopher John". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 30 May 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. Crockfords on-line accessed 24 March 2008
  5. Number 10 — Diocese of Coventry
  6. Diocese of Coventry Press Release regarding Cocksworth's appointment Archived 16 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "No. 58694". The London Gazette. 9 May 2008. p. 7105.
  8. Start the Week—Consecration of the new Bishop of Coventry Archived 8 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Coventry Cathedral newsletter, 27 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30
  9. Diocese of Coventry — A Humble Moment by Jeremy Begbie (Archived 15 October 2008; archive retrieved 4 September 2018) & Ely Diocese — Consecration of Bishop of Huntingdon (Archived 7 March 2012; archive retrieved 14 August 2017)
  10. "The New Bishop Of Coventry". Diocese of Coventry. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  11. "Welcome to the new Bishop of Coventry". Coventry Telegraph. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  12. "Bishop of Coventry to lead Further and Higher Education work". Church of England. 3 December 2021.
  13. "Appointment of Dean of Windsor: 20 June 2023". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  14. "King approves Bishop of Coventry's appointment as Dean of Windsor". BBC News. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  15. "Christopher Cocksworth to be appointed the Dean of Windsor". Diocese of Coventry. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  16. Cocksworth, Christopher (21 January 2023). "To All Clergy and Readers" (pdf). Diocese of Coventry. Retrieved 24 January 2023. As we know, some bishops have come to believe that the doctrine and practice of marriage should be developed or extended to include same-sex unions. Others, the majority (including me), are not persuaded by those arguments and remain convinced that 'holy matrimony', to use the words of the Prayer Book, is the joining together of a man and a woman in 'an honourable estate, instituted of God ... adorned beautified' by Christ and 'commended by St Paul'.
  17. "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  18. "General Synod 9 TH February 2023 – Item 11" (PDF). Church of England. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  19. "Bishop to receive prestigious honour". Diocese of Coventry. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  20. "Bekanntgabe vom 01. Oktober 2021". Bundespraesident. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  21. Search results for Christopher J. Cocksworth at WorldCat. Retrieved 2008-08-07
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