Stephen Platten

Stephen George Platten (born 17 May 1947 in Southgate) is the current Bishop of Wakefield in the Church of England. He was consecrated in this role on 19 July 2003 and immediately prior to that was Dean of Norwich from 1995.

Life

His homepage states that he:

"has particular interests in the study of theology and relations with other churches. He has recently been appointed as Chairman of the Church of England Liturgical Commission, which seeks to develop the worshipping life of the church."

and that his interests include reading, walking, Northumberland and music. Stephen is married to Rosslie, whose work is focused particularly on children with special needs, and his two sons – Aidan and Gregory – both trained at Cuddesdon Theological College like their father, and were ordained deacons in 2003 and priests in 2004.

Educated at the Stationers' Company School, he took a B.Ed. at the Institute of Education, and the Post-graduate Diploma in Theology (with Distinction) at Cuddesdon College, and was awarded a B.D. at Trinity College, Oxford.

He was ordained deacon in 1975, and a priest in 1976, in the Diocese of Oxford. Other roles he has held include residentiary canon at Portsmouth Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Ordinands (1983–1990), Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs (1990–95), and Minister Provincial of the Third Order of St. Francis in its European Province (1991–96).

He was admitted to sit in the House of Lords as one of the Lords Spiritual on 22nd June 2009.

Works

• Pilgrims, Fount, London 1996
• Augustine’s Legacy, Darton, Longman and Todd 1997
• Pilgrim Guide to Norwich Cathedral, Canterbury Press, Norwich 1998
• Cathedrals and Abbeys of England, Jarrold Publishing, Norwich 1999
• Deacons in the Ministry of the Church (with Mary Tanner) Church House Publishing 1988
• Spirit and Tradition: An Essay on Change (with George Pattison), Canterbury Press, Norwich 1996

He has also edited:

• Marriage, Helen Oppenheimer, Mowbray, London 1990
• Good for the Poor, Michael Taylor, Mowbray, London 1990
• Working with God, Andrew Stokes, Mowbray, London 1992
• The Ethics of I.V.F., Anthony Dyson, Mowbray, London 1995

He has edited and contributed to eight books:

• New Surroundings, Darton, Longman and Todd 1997
• Flagships of the Spirit, Darton, Longman and Todd 1998
• Seeing Ourselves: Who are the Interpreters of Contemporary Society, Canterbury Press Norwich 1998
• The Retreat of the State: Nourishing the Soul of Society, Canterbury Press, Norwich 1999
• Ink and Spirit: Literature and Spirituality, Canterbury Press, Norwich 2000
• Open Government, Canterbury Press, Norwich 2000
• Runcie: On Reflection, Canterbury Press 2002
• Anglicanism and the Western Christian Tradition, Canterbury Press 2003

External links

• Wakefield Diocese Page
• Photographs (NOT free-use)
• CV