Christopher Lowson

The Right Reverend

Christopher Lowson
The Right Reverend; Christopher Lowson
Bishop of Lincoln
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Lincoln
In office	2011–present
Predecessor	John Saxbee
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Portsmouth/of Portsdown (1999–2006; title changed November 1999); Director of Ministry Division (2006–2011)
Orders
Ordination	1977 (deacon); 1978 (priest); by Mervyn Stockwood
Consecration	2011
Personal details
Born	3 February 1953 (age 71); Consett, County Durham, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Susan Lowson
Children	two
Alma mater	King's College London

Christopher "Chris" Lowson (born 3 February 1953)^[1] is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2011, he has been the 72nd Bishop of Lincoln.^[2]

Education and ordination

Lowson was educated at Newcastle Cathedral School, Consett Grammar School and King's College London where he was awarded an Associateship of King's College qualification in theology in 1975.^[3]^[4] He then studied at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California (as a World Council of Churches' scholar), where he received a Master of Sacred Theology degree in theology before being ordained in 1977.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8] During his work Lowson studied part-time at Heythrop College, University of London where he obtained a Master of Theology degree in pastoral theology in 1996 and, in 2003, he completed a Master of Laws degree in canon law at Cardiff Law School.^[6]^[8]

Ordained ministry

Lowson was made a deacon at Petertide 1977 (3 July)^[9] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (2 July 1978), both times by Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral.^[10] He began his ordained ministry as an assistant curate in Richmond, Surrey. He was successively priest in charge (1982 to 1983) and vicar (1983 to 1991) at Holy Trinity, Eltham. From 1982 to 1985 he was also a chaplain at Avery Hill College and then of Thames Polytechnic to 1991. That year, he became vicar of Petersfield and rector of Buriton.^[11] He held this appointment for eight years, for the last four of which he was also rural dean of Petersfield. In 1999 he became Archdeacon of Portsmouth, which soon after was divided into the archdeaconries of The Meon and of Portsdown; Lowson remained, becoming the Archdeacon of Portsdown until 2006. In that year he was appointed director of the Ministry Division of the Archbishops' Council and a priest vicar at Westminster Abbey, posts he held until the confirmation of his election to the See of Lincoln.^[12]

Lowson's election as Bishop of Lincoln was confirmed at Lambeth Palace on 19 July 2011.^[13] He was consecrated as a bishop on 21 September 2011 in Westminster Abbey and enthroned in Lincoln Cathedral on 12 November 2011.^[14] He is believed to be the only steel worker ever to have been appointed a bishop.^[15] He was introduced to the House of Lords as a Lord Spiritual on 14 September 2017.^[16]

Clubs

He is a member of the Athenaeum Club and the Royal Automobile Club.

Styles

The Reverend Chris Lowson (1978–1999)^[17]
The Venerable Chris Lowson (1999–2011)^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]
The Right Reverend Christopher Lowson (2011–present)

References

^ Lowson. "Lowson, Christopher". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |accessed= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |othernames= ignored (help) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ BBC News
^ "Bishop of Lincoln to be introduced to House of Lords". Market Rasen Journal. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
^ "Three alumni appointed as Bishops" (PDF). Comment (King's College London quarterly newsletter). March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
^ "Home > News > Diocese of Lincoln". The Official Site of the British Prime Minister. London, United Kingdom: HM Government. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012. The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Christopher Lowson, AKC, STM, MTh, LLM, Director of Ministry at the Archbishops' Council, for election as Bishop of Lincoln.
^ ^a ^b "News > Appointment of 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". The Diocese of Lincoln. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
^ Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6
^ ^a ^b "Christopher Lowson, Bishop of Lincoln". Linkedin. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 5968. 1 July 1977. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6021. 7 July 1978. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
^ Church website
^ Number 10
^ Diocese of Lincoln – Confirmation of the 72nd Bishop Archived 22 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 15 July 2013)
^ Diocese of Lincoln – Consecration of Christopher Lowson Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Director of Ministry - and former steel-worker - appointed 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". Lincoln, England: JUST Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire's Equality and Human Rights Council). 19 April 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2012. His father, grandfather (a professional footballer) and great-grandfather had all worked at Consett's steel works and Lowson worked there for two summers as a labourer in the coke ovens at the plant while undertaking his initial training for the ordained ministry.
^ Lords' Calendar — 14 September 2017 (Accessed 7 September 2017)
^ St Peter's Petersfield — The History of St Peter’s Church (Accessed 21 December 2015)
^ Southern Daily Echo — Archdeacon Peter is man for new era (Accessed 21 December 2015)
^ Diocese of Portsmouth — New Archdeacon for Portsmouth and Havant (Accessed 21 December 2015)
^ The Telegraph — Church to tackle shortage of vicars (Accessed 21 December 2015)
^ The Telegraph — Women priests to match males by 2025 (Accessed 21 December 2015)
^ Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership — Visit from Director of the Ministry Division (Accessed 21 December 2015)

Church of England titles
Preceded by John Saxbee	Bishop of Lincoln 2011–present	Incumbent

[1] Lowson. "Lowson, Christopher". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter |accessed= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |othernames= ignored (help) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[2] BBC News

[3] "Bishop of Lincoln to be introduced to House of Lords". Market Rasen Journal. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2018.

[4] "Three alumni appointed as Bishops" (PDF). Comment (King's College London quarterly newsletter). March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2013.

[5] "Home > News > Diocese of Lincoln". The Official Site of the British Prime Minister. London, United Kingdom: HM Government. 15 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012. The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Christopher Lowson, AKC, STM, MTh, LLM, Director of Ministry at the Archbishops' Council, for election as Bishop of Lincoln.

[72nd_Bishop_of_Lincoln-6] "News > Appointment of 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". The Diocese of Lincoln. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.

[7] Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6

[Linkedin-8] "Christopher Lowson, Bishop of Lincoln". Linkedin. Retrieved 16 November 2013.

[9] "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 5968. 1 July 1977. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.

[10] "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6021. 7 July 1978. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.

[11] Church website

[12] Number 10

[13] Diocese of Lincoln – Confirmation of the 72nd Bishop Archived 22 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 15 July 2013)

[linc-14] Diocese of Lincoln – Consecration of Christopher Lowson Archived 15 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[15] "Director of Ministry - and former steel-worker - appointed 72nd Bishop of Lincoln". Lincoln, England: JUST Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire's Equality and Human Rights Council). 19 April 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2012. His father, grandfather (a professional footballer) and great-grandfather had all worked at Consett's steel works and Lowson worked there for two summers as a labourer in the coke ovens at the plant while undertaking his initial training for the ordained ministry.

[16] Lords' Calendar — 14 September 2017 (Accessed 7 September 2017)

[17] St Peter's Petersfield — The History of St Peter’s Church (Accessed 21 December 2015)

[18] Southern Daily Echo — Archdeacon Peter is man for new era (Accessed 21 December 2015)

[19] Diocese of Portsmouth — New Archdeacon for Portsmouth and Havant (Accessed 21 December 2015)

[20] The Telegraph — Church to tackle shortage of vicars (Accessed 21 December 2015)

[21] The Telegraph — Women priests to match males by 2025 (Accessed 21 December 2015)

[22] Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership — Visit from Director of the Ministry Division (Accessed 21 December 2015)

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v t e Archdeacons in the Diocese of Portsmouth
Isle of Wight	Francis McDougall Henry Haigh James Macarthur, Bishop of Southampton Lewen Tugwell Robert McKew Hampton Weekes Edward Roberts Alexander Cory Geoffrey Tiarks Ron Scruby Freddie Carpenter Tony Turner Mervyn Banting Trevor Reader Caroline Baston Peter Sutton Peter Leonard Steve Daughtery
Portsmouth (until 1999) & Portsdown (since 1999)	Neville Lovett Harold Rodgers Harold Hyde-Lees Arthur Kitching Edward Roberts Michael Peck Geoffrey Tiarks Christopher Prior Ron Scruby Norman Crowder Graeme Knowles Chris Lowson (became Archdeacon of Portsdown) Chris Lowson, Archdeacon of Portsdown Trevor Reader, Archdeacon of Portsdown Joanne Grenfell, Archdeacon of Portsdown Jenny Rowley, Archdeacon-designate of Portsdown
The Meon	Peter Hancock Gavin Collins Will Hughes (acting) Kathryn Percival

v t e Bishops of Lincoln
Leicester	Cuthwine Wilfrid Headda Aldwine Torhthelm Eadbeorht Unwona Wernbeorht Hræthhun Ealdred Ceobred see removed to Dorchester
Dorchester	Harlardus Wigmund Coenwulf Wynsige Æthelwold Oscytel united see: Leofwine Alnothus Æscwig Ælfhelm Eadnoth (I) Æthelric Eadnoth (II) Ulfus Normanus Wulfwig Remigius de Fécamp
High Medieval	Remigius de Fécamp Robert Bloet Alexander Robert de Chesney Geoffrey Plantagenet Walter de Coutances Hugh of Avalon William de Blois Hugh of Wells Robert Grosseteste Henry of Lexington Richard of Gravesend Oliver Sutton
Late Medieval	John Dalderby Anthony Bek Henry Burghersh Thomas Bek John Gynwell John Bokyngham Henry Beaufort Philip Repyngdon Richard Fleming William Grey William Alnwick Marmaduke Lumley John Chadworth Thomas Rotherham John Russell
Early modern	William Smyth Thomas Wolsey William Atwater John Longland Henry Holbeach John Taylor John White Thomas Watson Nicholas Bullingham Thomas Cooper William Wickham William Chaderton William Barlow Richard Neile George Montaigne John Williams Thomas Winniffe Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Robert Sanderson Benjamin Lany William Fuller Thomas Barlow Thomas Tenison James Gardiner William Wake Edmund Gibson Richard Reynolds John Thomas John Green Thomas Thurlow
Late modern	George Pretyman (later Pretyman Tomline) George Pelham John Kaye John Jackson Christopher Wordsworth Edward King Edward Hicks William Swayne Nugent Hicks Aylmer Skelton Leslie Owen Maurice Harland Kenneth Riches Simon Phipps Bob Hardy John Saxbee Christopher Lowson Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely (acting) David Court (acting) Stephen Conway

v t e Diocese of Lincoln
Lincoln Cathedral Edward King House Bishop's Palace, Lincoln (medieval & 19th century – 1948) Buckden Palace (12th century – 1841) Riseholme Hall (1843–1888) Bishop's House, Lincoln (1948–2011) 5-bed bishop's house (since 2011) Area scheme (2010–2013)
Office holders	Stephen Conway, Bishop of Lincoln David Court, Bishop suffragan of Grimsby Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop suffragan of Grantham AEO: Bishop suffragan of Richborough (vacant) & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln Justine Allain Chapman, Archdeacon of Boston Gavin Kirk, Archdeacon of Lincoln Aly Buxton, Archdeacon of Stow and Lindsey
Selected deaneries	Deanery of Christianity Deanery of Lafford
Historic offices	Bishop of Nottingham (1870–1893) Archdeacon of Huntingdon (c. 1075–1837; moved to Ely) Archdeacon of Northampton (1092–1541; became Peterborough) Archdeacon of Oxford (c. 1092–1541; became Oxford) Archdeacon of Bedford (1092–1837; moved to Oxford) Archdeacon of Buckingham (1092–1837; moved to Oxford) Archdeacon of Leicester (1092–1837; moved to Peterborough) Archdeacon of Nottingham (1837–1884; moved to Southwell) Archdeacon of Lindsey (1933–1994; merged back to Stow)