View source for Christopher Cocksworth

{{Short description|British Anglican bishop (born 1959)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Reverend]]
| name = Christopher Cocksworth
| image = Official portrait of The Lord Bishop of Coventry crop 2, 2019.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| title = [[Dean of Windsor]]
| term = 6 November 2023 – present
| predecessor = [[David Conner (bishop)|David Conner]]
| church = [[Church of England]]
| other_post = {{plainlist|
* [[Bishop of Coventry]] {{nowrap|(2008–2023)}}
* Principal of [[Ridley Hall, Cambridge]] {{nowrap|(2001–2008)}}
* Chaplain to [[Royal Holloway, University of London]] {{nowrap|(1992–1997)}}
}}
| ordination = {{plainlist|
* 3 July 1988 (deacon)<br />by {{nowrap|[[Michael Adie]]}}
* 2 July 1989 (priest)<br />by {{nowrap|[[David Wilcox (bishop)|David Wilcox]]}}
}}
| consecration = 3 July 2008
| consecrated_by = [[Rowan Williams]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|01|12|df=y}}
| nationality = [[British people|British]]
| residence = 
| spouse = Charlotte Pytches
| children = Five sons
| profession = [[Bishop]], [[theologian]]
| alma_mater = [[University of Manchester]]
| module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes
   | office        = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br />[[Lord Spiritual]]
   | term_start    = 19 November 2012
   | term_end      = 6 November 2023
}}
}}
'''Christopher John Cocksworth''' (born 12 January 1959) is a [[Church of England]] bishop in the [[open evangelical]] tradition who served as [[Bishop of Coventry]] from 2008 to 2023. Prior to becoming bishop, he was a university chaplain and the [[Principal (academia)|Principal]] of [[Ridley Hall, Cambridge]] (2001−2008). He took up the position of [[Dean of Windsor]] in 2023.

==Early life and education==
He was brought up in [[Horsham]] and attended [[Forest School, Horsham|Forest School for Boys]] and [[The College of Richard Collyer|Collyer's Sixth form College]], then the [[University of Manchester]] where he earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in theology with first class honours. In 1989 he was awarded a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (PhD) degree under the supervision of [[Richard Bauckham]]. He studied for ordination at [[St John's College, Nottingham]].

==Ordained ministry==
Cocksworth was ordained a [[deacon]] at [[Petertide]] 1988 (3 July) by [[Michael Adie]], [[Bishop of Guildford]],<ref>{{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1988_07_08_013 | issue = 6543 | date = 8 July 1988 | page = 13 | accessed = 30 May 2017 }}</ref> and ordained a [[priest]] the following Petertide (2 July 1989) by [[David Wilcox (bishop)|David Wilcox]], [[Bishop of Dorking]] – both times at [[Guildford Cathedral]].<ref>{{Church Times | title = Ordinations | archive = 1989_07_14_015 | issue = 6596 | date = 14 July 1989 | page = 15 | accessed = 30 May 2017 }}</ref> He served his curacy at Christ Church, Epsom Common in the [[Diocese of Guildford]].<ref>{{Who's Who | title=Cocksworth, Christopher John | id = U23539 | volume = 2017 | edition = November 2016 online | access-date = 30 May 2017 }}</ref> In 1992, he moved to become chaplain of [[Royal Holloway, University of London]] until 1997. He then became director of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme; a position he relinquished in 2001. He had been made an honorary canon of Guildford Cathedral in 1999. He was later the principal of [[Ridley Hall, Cambridge]].<ref>[[Crockford's clerical directory|Crockfords on-line]] accessed 24 March 2008</ref>

He was a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission from 1999 to 2006, and was involved in revising the ordination services and the daily prayer compilation ''[[Common Worship]]''. He later chaired the Faith and Order Commission.

===Episcopal ministry===
His nomination for the appointment as Bishop of Coventry on the retirement of [[Colin Bennetts]] was announced on 3 March 2008.<ref name="no10">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080909065758/http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page14821 Number 10 – Diocese of Coventry]</ref><ref name="CovAnnounce">[http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/1/item/255 Diocese of Coventry Press Release regarding Cocksworth's appointment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316233334/http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/1/item/255 |date=16 March 2008 }}</ref> He was formally elected by the cathedral chapter in May 2008, following the issue of a ''[[congé d'elire]]'' by [[Elizabeth II]] on 6 May 2008.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=58694 |page=7105|date=9 May 2008}}</ref> He was consecrated as a bishop on 3 July 2008 in Southwark Cathedral<ref>[http://www.coventry.anglican.org/developmentevangelism/starttheweek/opt/1/item/328 Start the Week—Consecration of the new Bishop of Coventry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508150157/http://www.coventry.anglican.org/developmentevangelism/starttheweek/opt/1/item/328 |date=8 May 2011 }}, Coventry Cathedral newsletter, 27 May 2008.  Retrieved 2008-06-30</ref> by [[Rowan Williams]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]];<ref>[http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/0/item/369 Diocese of Coventry – A Humble Moment by Jeremy Begbie] (Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20081015170451/http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/0/item/369 15 October 2008]; archive retrieved 4 September 2018) &amp; [http://www.ely.anglican.org/news_events/media/press/details.html?id=91 Ely Diocese – Consecration of Bishop of Huntingdon] (Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20120307155750/http://www.ely.anglican.org/news_events/media/press/details.html?id=91 7 March 2012]; archive retrieved 14 August 2017)</ref> and was enthroned on 1 November 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coventrydiocese.org/home/bishopswelcome/ |title=The New Bishop Of Coventry |publisher=Diocese of Coventry |accessdate=18 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611211339/http://www.coventrydiocese.org/home/bishopswelcome/ |archivedate=11 June 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2008/11/03/welcome-to-the-new-bishop-of-coventry-92746-22173759|title=Welcome to the new Bishop of Coventry|date=3 November 2008 |work=[[Coventry Telegraph]]|accessdate=18 November 2008}}</ref> He was the youngest serving diocesan bishop at the time of his appointment,<ref name="CovAnnounce" /> and retained that distinction until late 2014. He became a member of the [[House of Lords]] as a [[Lord Spiritual]] on 19 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4266/career |title=The Lord Bishop of Coventry: Parliamentary career |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>

He became the [[Spokesperson bishops in the Church of England|Church of England's lead bishop]] for higher and Further Education in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishop-coventry-lead-further-and-higher-education-work |title=Bishop of Coventry to lead Further and Higher Education work |date=3 December 2021 |publisher=Church of England}}</ref>

In June 2023, Cocksworth was appointed [[Dean of Windsor]], the head of [[St&nbsp;George's Chapel, Windsor Castle|St&nbsp;George's Chapel]], a [[royal peculiar]] in the precincts of [[Windsor Castle]],<ref name="GOV dean">{{cite web |title=Appointment of Dean of Windsor: 20 June 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-dean-of-windsor-20-june-2023 |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street |access-date=20 June 2023 |language=en |date=20 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=King approves Bishop of Coventry's appointment as Dean of Windsor |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65961107 |website=BBC News |access-date=22 June 2023 |date=20 June 2023}}</ref> He took up the appointment on 6 November,<ref>{{London Gazette |date=10 November 2023 |issue=64225 |page=22650}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=Diocese of Coventry |title=Christopher Cocksworth to be appointed the Dean of Windsor |url=https://coventry.anglican.org/news/the-right-reverend-dr-christopher-cocksworth-to-be-appointed-the-dean-of-windsor.php |date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620140501/https://coventry.anglican.org/news/the-right-reverend-dr-christopher-cocksworth-to-be-appointed-the-dean-of-windsor.php |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 }}</ref> resigning the see of Coventry on the previous day.<ref>{{cite web |website=Diocese of Coventry |title=Vacancy in See |url=https://www.coventry.anglican.org/about/vacancy-in-see/vacancy-in-see |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027195939/https://www.coventry.anglican.org/about/vacancy-in-see/vacancy-in-see |archive-date=27 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 }}</ref>

===Views===
Cocksworth is against the extending of marriage to same-sex couples, and supports the Church of England current definition of Holy Matrimony (i.e. the life long union of one man and one woman).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cocksworth |first1=Christopher |title=To All Clergy and Readers |url=https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/5f3ffda5728e0/content/pages/documents/letter-from-bishop-christopher-regarding-llf.pdf |website=Diocese of Coventry |access-date=24 January 2023 |date=21 January 2023 |quote=As we know, some bishops have come to believe that the doctrine and practice of marriage should be developed or extended to include same-sex unions. Others, the majority (including me), are not persuaded by those arguments and remain convinced that ‘holy matrimony’, to use the words of the Prayer Book, is the joining together of a man and a woman in ‘an honourable estate, instituted of God ... adorned beautified’ by Christ and ‘commended by St Paul’.}}</ref>

In 2023, following the news that the House of Bishop's of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter which stated:<ref name="Doctrine of Marriage">{{cite web |title=LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage |url=https://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/llf-a-paper-on-the-doctrine-of-marriage |website=Thinking Anglicans |access-date=31 January 2023 |language=en |date=31 January 2023}}</ref>
{{quote| many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.<ref name="Doctrine of Marriage" />}}

During the Church of England's February 2023 [[General Synod of the Church of England|General Synod]] meeting, Cocksworth was one of two bishops in the house to abstain in the successful vote to introduce blessings and prayers for same-sex relationships.<ref name="gs-2023-llf-vote">{{cite web |title=General Synod 9 TH February 2023 – Item 11 |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Item%2011%20by%20House.pdf |publisher=Church of England |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He is married to Charlotte, daughter of [[David Pytches]] (former diocesan [[Bishop of Chile, Bolivia & Peru]]), and they have five sons.

==Honours==
On 15 July 2009, Cocksworth was awarded the degree of [[Doctor of Divinity]], ''[[honoris causa]]'', of the University of London. The award was conferred by [[Royal Holloway]], University of London, at a ceremony held in the college's chapel. The University of London awards honorary degrees to those of conspicuous merit, outstanding in their field, or those who have given exceptional service to the university. Cocksworth was honoured for his services to education – particularly higher education – and to the church as well as for his service to Royal Holloway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/1/item/669|title=Bishop to receive prestigious honour|publisher=Diocese of Coventry|date=13 July 2009|accessdate=21 July 2009|archive-date=8 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508150238/http://www.coventry.anglican.org/news/pressreleases/opt/1/item/669|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

In 2021 he received the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Commander's Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/Bekanntgabe-Ordensverleihung/2110-Verleihungen.html|title=Bekanntgabe vom 01. Oktober 2021 |publisher=Bundespraesident|date=1 October 2021|accessdate=24 November 2021}}</ref>

==Publications==
Cocksworth has written widely on theological matters, with some of his books including:
*''Renewing Daily Prayer: An Introduction to Celebrating Common Prayer'' (1992)
*''Evangelical Eucharistic Thought in the Church of England'' (1993)
*''An Anglican Companion'', with Alan Wilkinson (1996)
*''Holy, Holy, Holy, Worshipping the Trinitarian God'' (1997)
*''Prayer and the Departed'' (1997)
*''Common Worship: An Introduction'' (2001)
*''Wisdom: The Spirit's Gift'' (2003)
*''Being a Priest Today: Exploring Priestly Identity'', with Rosalind Brown (2002, 2nd ed. 2006)
*''Holding Together: Gospel, Church and Spirit'' (2008), which was nominated for the 2011 Michael Ramsey Book Prize.<ref>
*''Mary, Bearer of Life'' (2023), published by SCM
[http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Christopher+Cocksworth&fq=dt%3Abks+%3E+ap%3A%22cocksworth%2C+christopher+j%22&qt=facet_ap%3A Search results for Christopher J. Cocksworth] at [[WorldCat]].  Retrieved 2008-08-07</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Colin Bennetts]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bishop of Coventry]]|years=2008–2023}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[David Conner (bishop)|David Conner]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Dean of Windsor]]|years=2023–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}

{{Deans of Windsor}}
{{Bishops of Coventry}}
{{Spokesperson bishops in the Church of England}}
{{Principals of Ridley Hall, Cambridge}}
{{Members of the Order of the Garter}}
{{Portalbar|Christianity}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cocksworth, Christopher}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:21st-century Church of England bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century Anglican theologians]]
[[Category:21st-century Anglican theologians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Academics of Royal Holloway, University of London]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College, Nottingham]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester]]
[[Category:Bishops for Higher and Further Education]]
[[Category:Bishops of Coventry]]
[[Category:Deans of Windsor]]
[[Category:Doctors of Divinity]]
[[Category:Evangelical Anglican bishops]]
[[Category:Lords Spiritual]]
[[Category:Registers of the Order of the Garter]]
[[Category:Staff of Ridley Hall, Cambridge]]
[[Category:People from Horsham]]
[[Category:People educated at The College of Richard Collyer]]