William Noblett

The Venerable William Alexander Noblett (known informally as Nobby), CBE (born 16 April 1953) is an Anglo-Irish retired Anglican priest[1] and manager. He was Chaplain-General of Prisons from 2001[2] to 2011.[3]

The Venerable Noblett was educated at The High School, Dublin, Southampton University, and Salisbury & Wells Theological College, with a B.Th. from Southampton in 1978, graduating with an M.Th. in Applied Theology at Oxford University in 1998.[4] He was ordained deacon in 1978 and priest in 1979. After a curacy in Sholing he served the Church of Ireland as the Rector of Ardamine Union in the Republic of Ireland from 1980 to 1982. He was a Chaplain in the RAF from 1982 to 1984;[5] and Vicar of St Thomas, Middlesbrough from 1984 to 1987.

In the late 1980s he entered the chaplaincy service of HM Prisons. Noblett was a chaplain at Wakefield, Norwich and Full Sutton prisons 1987-2001, before becoming Chaplain General and Archdeacon of Prisons. The Venerable Noblett was a Canon and Prebend of York Minster from 2001 to 2012, and is a Canon Emeritus; an Honorary Canon of Liverpool Cathedral from 2009 to 2012; and has been a Chaplain to the Sovereign since 2005. He received the 2013 Perrie Award for his 'outstanding contribution to the criminal justice system'. During his time as prison chaplain, he published "Prayers for People in Prison" (1998) and "Inside Faith: praying for people in prison" (2009).

In 2009 the Venerable Noblett was made an Honorary Life Member of the American Correctional Chaplains Association in recognition of his leadership.[6] At the conclusion of the Venerable Noblett's term as Chaplain General, which saw him criticised for a perceived condescending attitude towards traditional religious belief,[7] the Church of England faced the possible loss of the Chaplain General's position.[8] [9]