Colin Fletcher (bishop)

Colin William Fletcher OBE (born 17 November 1950) is a British retired Anglican bishop. He served as area Bishop of Dorchester in the Diocese of Oxford.[2]

The Right Reverend Colin Fletcher OBE
Bishop of Dorchester
Diocese	Diocese of Oxford
In office	2000–2020
Predecessor	Anthony Russell
Other posts	Chaplain to George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (1993–2000) Acting Bishop of Oxford (2006–2007 & 2014–2016)
Orders
Ordination	1975 (deacon); 1976 (priest) by Ross Hook
Consecration	4 October 2000 by George Carey
Personal details
Born	17 November 1950
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	​ ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	three[1]
Alma mater	Trinity College, Oxford

Early life and ministry

Fletcher was educated at Marlborough and Trinity College, Oxford.[3] After studying at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford he was ordained into the Church of England:[4] he was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1975 (20 September), in Bradford Cathedral[5] and ordained a priest the following Michaelmas (19 September 1976), at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton; both times by Ross Hook, Bishop of Bradford.[6] His ordained ministry began with a curacy at Shipley.[7]

Fletcher was then a tutor at Wycliffe Hall and after that Vicar of Holy Trinity in Margate[8] for eight years, before becoming chaplain to George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury — a post he held for seven years. During his time as chaplain, he was co-chair of the Lambeth Group, which was set up to advise the British government on the "spiritual aspects of the millennium".[9]

Episcopal career

Fletcher was appointed to the episcopate in 2000, succeeding Anthony Russell on his appointment as Bishop of Ely. He was consecrated as a bishop in Westminster Abbey by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 4 October 2000 (St Francis of Assisi's day).[10] Following the retirement of Richard Harries as Bishop of Oxford, Fletcher was Acting Bishop of Oxford until the appointment of John Pritchard (2 June 2006 – 23 March 2007); in 2014 he became acting bishop again following Pritchard's retirement (31 October 2014 – September 2016).[11] Fletcher announced his intention to retire on 4 October 2020.[12]

Awards

Fletcher was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Millennium Honours List. In 2008 he was awarded the Cross of St Augustine, the second highest international award for outstanding service to the Anglican Communion, by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.[13]

Private life

A keen ornithologist,[14] Fletcher married in 1980 and has three children.

His brother is Philip Fletcher, a reader and retired public servant.[15]

Styles

• The Reverend Colin Fletcher (1976–1988)
• The Reverend Canon Colin Fletcher (1988–2000)
• The Right Reverend Colin Fletcher (2000–present)

References

1. 10 Downing Street — Suffragan See of Dorchester (National Archives)
2. Anglican Communion
3. "Fletcher, Colin William". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 13 July 2017. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
4. "Colin William Fletcher". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
5. "September ordinations". Church Times (#5876). 26 September 1975. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 13 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. "September ordinations". Church Times (#5928). 24 September 1976. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 13 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
7. Church web-site (1)
8. "Church web-site (2)". Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
9. Biography of Bishop Colin from the Barnabas in Churches website Archived 5 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
10. The Door (Diocese of Oxford newspaper), November 2000 — Welcome to the Family (Archived at archive.org, 12 December 2000. Retrieved 13 July 2017)
11. Diocese of Oxford – Bishop John lays down his staff (Accessed 1 November 2014)
12. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/bishop-of-dorchester-to-retire-in-2020/
13. See Lambeth citation list here.
14. Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
15. "Business Profile: 'My ruling holds water'". The Daily Telegraph. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2018.