Rob Gillion
Rob Gillion | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Riverina | |
| Church | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Diocese | Riverina |
| Installed | 15 August 2014 |
| Term ended | 21 July 2018 |
| Predecessor | Douglas Stevens |
| Successor | Donald Kirk |
| Other post(s) | Vicar of Streatham (Christ Church) and Associate Bishop for the Arts (Southwark, 2020–present) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1984 |
| Consecration | 15 August 2014 by Glenn Davies |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 September 1951 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Janine |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Alma mater | University of London Salisbury and Wells Theological College |
Alan Robert Gillion (born 7 September 1951[1][2]) is a British Anglican bishop and former actor. From 2014 to 2018 he was the Bishop of Riverina in the Anglican Church of Australia; since 2020, he has been a parish priest in Streatham, South London.
Early life
[edit]Gillion was born in Norfolk to clergy parents[3] and was educated at Norwich School.[4] He trained in acting at the University of London and then worked as an actor and theatre director for 12 years, participating in a variety of stage shows including cabaret, repertory and Shakespeare productions,[5] prior to retraining for ministry at the age of 32.[6]
Ordained ministry
[edit]Gillion trained for ministry at Salisbury and Wells Theological College and was ordained Church of England:[7] made deacon at Petertide 1983 (26 June)[8] and ordained priest the following Petertide (1 July 1984) — both times by Maurice Wood, Bishop of Norwich, at Norwich Cathedral.[9] His early ministry saw him serve in the Diocese of Southwark[7] and then the Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao, where, as parish priest at Discovery Bay he voluntarily spent a week incarcerated at Shek Pik Prison to better understand his ministry as chaplain to the prisoners, who nicknamed him Father Robbery.[10] He was also the diocese's head of religious broadcasting.[3]
He returned to London in 1998,[3] where he served first as the evangelism officer for the Bishop of Kensington, then as rector of Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, and St Saviour, Upper Chelsea.[6] During his time in London, Gillion was a regular contributor to the BBC's Pause for Thought program,[3][11] and also served as chaplain at Harrods.[12]
Episcopal ministry
[edit]In April 2014, Gillion was elected Bishop of Riverina in the Province of New South Wales in the Anglican Church of Australia after a representative of the diocese saw him preach at St Paul's Cathedral, London (which was the only time he had ever preached there).[13] He was consecrated and enthroned on 15 August 2014 at St Alban's Cathedral, Griffith. In working in Australia, Gillion followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who had worked as a priest in Broome and Derby in Western Australia during the 1920s.
During his time as Bishop of Riverina, Gillion performed a one-man stage show about faith to raise funds for a youth theatre project in the diocese.[12] He also called on denominational churches to combine in disadvantaged rural areas to improve ministry resources.[5] Gillion served as bishop from 15 August 2014 until resigning effective 21 July 2018.
Return to England
[edit]After his resignation Gillion returned to the United Kingdom and in March 2019 he was appointed as an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Lincoln and interim priest-in-charge of St John the Baptist Spalding,[14] for an 18-month term.[15]
On 19 August 2020, Gillion was licensed as priest-in-charge of Christ Church Streatham and an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Southwark;[16] on 10 September he was commissioned as Associate Bishop for the Arts (in that diocese);[17][18] and in 2021, the legal status of his parish post (but not the nature of the role) was changed to vicar.[19]
Personal life
[edit]Gillion is married to Janine and has two sons, one of whom is the marketing manager for the Australian Grand Prix.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Gillion, Alan Robert". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: The Rt Rev Alan Robert Gillion". Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Brown, Winston (22 March 2019). "Former actor who worked as a priest in Norfolk, Surrey, Hong Kong and Australia takes over at St John the Baptist Church, Spalding". Spalding Today. Iliffe Media Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "The Right Revd Rob Gillion". Diocese of Lincoln. Church of England. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b Lee, Tim (22 March 2016). "The theatrical Bishop caring for a far-flung flock in the outback". Landline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b Powell, Russell (4 April 2014). "Former actor elected Bishop of Riverina". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b "The Revd Rob Gillion to be Diocesan Bishop of Riverina, Australia". Diocese of London. Church of England. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6281. 1 July 1983. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 30 July 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6334. 6 July 1984. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 30 July 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Priest learns from his mission in cell". South China Morning Post. 16 April 1995. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 – Pause for Thought – Rob Gillion". 19 December 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ a b c Hudson, Sarah (4 May 2016). "Riverina's new Bishop swaps the stage for the pulpit". The Weekly Times. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ Lee, Tim (21 March 2016). "Outback Bishop: Divine Stage". Landline. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Notification of appointment: The Rt Revd Robert Gillion". Diocese of Lincoln. Church of England. 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "1st June Special Message from Bishop Rob - St John the Baptist Church, Spalding".
- ^ "Christ Church welcomes Bishop Rob Gillion as the new Priest-in-Charge - News - Streatham, Christ Church - A Church Near You". 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Nine Elms Arts Ministry on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]
- ^ "New priest for Christ Church, Streatham". 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Gazette: appointments". Church Times. No. 8254. 28 May 2021. p. 28. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 30 July 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
