Rob Wickham

Robert James "Rob" Wickham (born 3 May 1972) is a British Anglican bishop. He has been CEO of the Church Urban Fund since June 2023,[1] having previously served as Bishop of Edmonton (an area bishop in the Diocese of London) 2015–2023. He also served part-time as Acting Bishop of Portsmouth.[2]

The Right Reverend

Rob Wickham
area Bishop of Edmonton
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of London
In office23 September 2015 – 9 July 2023
PredecessorPeter Wheatley
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordination1998 (deacon)
1999 (priest)
Consecration23 September 2015
by Justin Welby
Personal details
Born
Robert James Wickham

(1972-05-03) 3 May 1972
EducationHampton School
Alma materGrey College, Durham
King's College London

Early life and education

Wickham was born on 3 May 1972.[3][4] He was educated at Hampton School, an all-boys private school in Hampton, London. After a gap year, he studied geography at Grey College, Durham.[5] He graduated from the University of Durham with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1994.[4] He then spent a year working at St Luke's Church, Wallsend, an Anglo-Catholic church in a deprived area of North Tyneside.[5] In 1995, he entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, a Church of England theological college, where he spent three years studying for ordination to the priesthood.[4]

During his ordained ministry, he undertook post-graduate study. In 2012, he completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree in theology, politics and faith-based organisations at King's College London.[4][5]

Ordained ministry

Wickham was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1998 and as a priest in 1999.[4] From 1998 to 2001, he continued his training for ministry as a curate at St Mary's Church, Willesden in the Diocese of London; the church contains the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden.[4][5] In 2001, he moved to St Mary's Church, Somers Town where he served as a curate for the next two years.[6][7] In 2003, he became the Team Vicar in the newly created Parish of Old St Pancras which includes St Pancras Old Church.[4][5] In 2007, he moved parishes and became Rector of the Church of St John-at-Hackney;[4] this made him the 45th Rector of Hackney.[8] In 2014, he was additionally appointed the Area Dean of Hackney.[4]

Episcopal ministry

In July 2015, Wickham was announced as the next Bishop of Edmonton, an area bishop in the Diocese of London.[6][9] On 23 September 2015, he was consecrated a bishop in Canterbury Cathedral by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.[10]

It was announced on 26 February 2021 that Wickham is to additionally serve part-time as Acting Bishop of Portsmouth (archbishop's commissary) during the vacancy of that See, starting 28 April 2021.[2] On 18 January 2022, the new Bishop of Portsmouth, Jonathan Frost, took up the See.[11] On 21 February 2023, it was announced that Wickham was to become CEO of Church Urban Fund, resigning his See[12] effective 9 July 2023.[13]

Personal life

Wickham is married to Helen, a primary school teacher.[6] Together, they have three children.[8] He is a supporter of Plymouth Argyle football club.[6]

References
  1. Communications (21 February 2023). "Bishop Rob appointed next CEO of Church Urban Fund". Diocese of London. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - New 'commissary bishop' will help to lead diocese".
  3. "Wickham, Robert James". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. "Robert James Wickham". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  5. "Order of Service: Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton" (PDF). Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  6. "Suffragan Bishop of Edmonton: Robert Wickham". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  7. "EDMONTON, Area Bishop of". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. "Who's Who". St John at Hackney Church. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  9. "Two new bishops and new archdeacon for London announced". Diocese of London. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  10. "Ordination and Consecration of the new Bishops of Maidstone, Kensington and Edmonton". Canterbury Cathedral. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  11. "Acting Dean of York announced". York Minster. 11 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022. & "Services beginning Sunday 16 January 2022 (image)". St Mary le Bow Church, London. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  12. "Bishop Rob appointed next CEO of Church Urban Fund". Diocese of London. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  13. "Classified advertisements". Church Times. No. 8362. 23 June 2023. p. 35. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 July 2023 – via UK Press Online archives.
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