John Richardson (bishop of Bedford)

John Henry Richardson (born 11 July 1937) is a retired Church of England bishop. From 1994 to 2002, he was Bishop of Bedford (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of St Albans, now serving in retirement as an honorary assistant bishop in the Dioceses of Carlisle and of Newcastle.^[1]

Early life

Richardson was born the son of John Richardson, sometime Archdeacon of Derby. He was educated at Winchester and Trinity Hall, Cambridge,^[2] whence he gained his degree of Cambridge Master of Arts (MA Cantab).

Priest

He became a deacon in 1963 and was ordained priest in 1964. Richardson began his ministry with curacies in Stevenage and Eastbourne. He became Vicar of Chipperfield, then Rural Dean of Rickmansworth^[3] and finally, before his appointment to the episcopate, Vicar of St Michael’s, Bishops Stortford.^[4]

Bishop

He was consecrated bishop in 1994. Richardson served as the Bishop of Bedford, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of St Albans. He retired in 2002, but has since served the church in retirement as an honorary assistant bishop elsewhere.

Family

In 1963, John Richardson married Felicity-Anne. They have three daughters and are grandparents.

Later life

In retirement, Richardson continues to serve the Church, as an honorary assistant bishop in the Dioceses of Carlisle and of Newcastle.

References

1. ↑ History of post
2. ↑ ‘RICHARDSON, Rt Rev. John Henry’, Who's Who 2012, A & C Black, 2012; online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2011 , accessed 10 July 2012
3. ↑ Crockfords On line- accessed Sunday 21 December 2008, 11:01
4. ↑ Parish details