Edward Holland (bishop)

Edward Holland (born 28 June 1936) is a retired Anglican bishop, who was the Suffragan Bishop in Europe and then the area Bishop of Colchester. He is now an honorary assistant bishop in both the Diocese of London and the Diocese in Europe.

The Right Reverend Edward Holland
Bishop of Colchester
Diocese	Diocese of Chelmsford
In office	1995–2001
Predecessor	Michael Vickers
Successor	Christopher Morgan
Other posts	Honorary assistant bishop in London and in Europe (2002–present) Suffragan Bishop in Europe (1986–1995)
Orders
Ordination	1965 (deacon); 1966 (priest)
Consecration	22 July 1986
Personal details
Born	28 June 1936
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Reginald Holland & Olive Yeoman
Alma mater	King's College London

Early life

Holland was born on 28 June 1936[1] and educated at Dauntsey's School and trained for the priesthood at King's College London, becoming an Associate of King's College (AKC).

Ordained ministry

Holland was ordained a deacon in 1965 and a priest in 1966. His first ministry position after ordination was as a curate at Holy Trinity, Dartford. He then served at John Keble Church, Mill Hill.[2] before a period in the Mediterranean.

Holland was precentor at Gibraltar Cathedral and then chaplain of Christ Church, Naples.[3][4] He returned to London to be vicar of St Mark's, Bromley, before his ordination to the episcopate.

Episcopal ministry

Holland was consecrated as a bishop on 22 July 1986, by Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Southwark Cathedral.[5] His first episcopal appointment made use of his experience as the suffragan bishop ("Suffragan Bishop in Europe") of the Diocese in Europe,[6] a diocese often described simply as "in Europe". The suffragan bishop in Europe assists the diocesan bishop. Holland served in this ministry for nine years.

Holland returned to the United Kingdom in 1995, to the Diocese of Chelmsford as Bishop of Colchester. That see is also one of a suffragan bishop, but this diocese is one in which the see is divided into discrete areas of administration (since 1983),[7] so the bishop is more often referred to as an area bishop.

Views

In February 2012, Holland signed an open letter calling for the Church of England to allow its priests to officiate at civil partnership ceremonies in their churches if their conscience allows them to. It was suggested that this would work in the same was as the remarriage of divorced couples, in that no resit would be forced to do so if their conscience did not allow it.[8]

Later life

In retirement since 2001, Holland is an honorary assistant bishop[9] in both the Diocese of London[10] and the Diocese in Europe.

References

1. Debrett's People of Today, London 2008, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
2. Church website
5. "picture caption". Church Times (#6442). 1 August 1986. p. 2. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 1 June 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. Who's Who 1992 (London, A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-3514-2)
7. "4: The Dioceses Commission, 1978–2002" (PDF). Church of England. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
8. "London clergy seek right to choose". Church Times. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
9. Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
10. Changing Attitude – Signatories on the letter to The Times and clergy proctors of London Diocese