David Thomson (bishop)

David Thomson, FSA, FRHistS, FRSA (born 2 February 1952) is a British retired Church of England bishop. From 2008 to 2013, he was the Bishop of Huntingdon, sole suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Ely.

The Right Reverend

David Thomson

FSA FRHistS FRSA
Bishop of Huntingdon
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Ely
In office2008 – 2018
PredecessorJohn Inge
SuccessorDagmar Winter
Other post(s)Acting Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (2013–2015)
Orders
Ordination1981 (deacon); 1982 (priest)
by David Lunn
Consecration3 July 2008[1]
by Rowan Williams
Personal details
Born (1952-02-02) 2 February 1952
Sunderland, County Durham, United Kingdom[2]
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
ParentsRonald (a priest)
SpouseJean
​
​
(m. 1974)​
[3]
Childrenfour
Professionbishop, medieval historian;[2] prev. lecturer[3]
Alma materKeble College, Oxford

Early life

Thomson was born in Sunderland, County Durham,[2] where his father, Ronald, was assistant curate; the family moved to the Sheffield area two years later (Ronald was curate of Attercliffe until 1957, and then Vicar of Shiregreen; he has since become an honorary canon of Sheffield).[4] David was educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield, followed by Keble College, Oxford, where he was awarded his Oxford Master of Arts (MA Oxon) and Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degrees in 1978.[3] He trained for the ministry at Westcott House (1978–1981) and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he studied theology (Selwyn awarded his Bachelor of Arts {BA} in 1980 and his Cambridge MA in 1984).

Ordained ministry

Thomson was made a deacon at Petertide 1981 (28 June)[5] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (27 June 1982) – both times by David Lunn, Bishop of Sheffield, at Sheffield Cathedral.[6] He served as assistant curate in the Maltby, South Yorkshire team ministry (1981–1984), and then Team Vicar of St Mary's Church, Banbury (1984–1994),[7] Team Rector of Cockermouth (1994–2002) and finally, before being ordained to the episcopate,[2] the Archdeacon of Carlisle and a canon residentiary of Carlisle Cathedral (2002–2008).[8]

Episcopal ministry

Thomson was consecrated as a bishop by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Southwark Cathedral on 3 July 2008 and installed as Bishop of Huntingdon in Ely Cathedral on 17 October that year.[1][9] During a lengthy vacancy in neighbouring Suffolk's diocesan see (while that diocese had no suffragan) from 20 October 2013 to 7 May 2015, he was also the Acting Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.[10] He retired on 30 September 2018.[11]

Academic career

A medieval historian, Thomson is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Historical Society as well as an FRSA. His academic works include A Descriptive Catalogue of Middle English Grammatical Texts (1979) and An Edition of the Middle English Grammatical Texts (1984).[12] His most recent work was on the Bewcastle Cross. He has also published a series of devotional books, A Journey with John, Lent with Luke, Christmas by Candelight and Ways to Pray..

Personal life

Thomson has been married to Jean since 1974, with four children;[3] his interests include detective fiction, crosswords, gardening, photography and fine art.

Styles

References
  1. Ely Diocese — Consecration of Bishop of Huntingdon (Archived 7 March 2012; archive. Retrieved 14 August 2017)
  2. Diocesan Profile (Accessed 13 August 2017)
  3. About Bishop David
  4. "Ronald Thomson". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6177. 3 July 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 14 August 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6229. 2 July 1982. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 14 August 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. "David Thomson". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. "Thomson, David". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 13 August 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  9. "Official notification". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  10. Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich – Bishop Nigel: privileged to have served Suffolk (Accessed 30 October 2013)
  11. Diocese of Ely — Retirement Announcement: David Thomson, Bishop of Huntingdon (Accessed 21 May 2018)
  12. British Library web-site (accessed 23 June 2008 21:24)
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