Colin James (clergyman)

Colin Clement Walter James (born September 20, 1926 in Cambridge , † December 9, 2009 in Wolvesey ) was a British Anglican clergyman and bishop of the Church of England . He was a prelate of the Order of the Garter .

life and career

James was born in Cambridge , where his father was the pastor of St. Giles Church . He attended Aldenham School in Hertfordshire and King's College Choir School , but did not sing in the choir there .

James later lived initially in Aldenham . At the end of the Second World War he was briefly stationed as a soldier in the Royal Navy in Hong Kong . After the end of the war he returned to Cambridge. He studied history at King's College of the University of Cambridge and graduated there with a diploma from. He prepared for the priesthood at Ripon College in Cuddesdon . In 1952 he became vicar ( curate ) in Stepney . From 1955 to 1956 he was initially an assistant chaplain at the Stowe School, a renowned private school in Buckingham , and then from 1956 to 1959 there as a chaplain.

In 1959 he joined the BBC's Religious Broadcasting Department . From 1960 to 1967 he produced radio programs there on religious topics for the south and west of Great Britain .

From 1967 to 1973 James was pastor ( Vicar ) in the Diocese of Winchester responsible for the parishes of St Peter and St Swithum in Bournemouth , and also as curate-in-charge from 1970 to 1973 for the parish of St Stephens . From 1972 to 1977 he was the diocesan director in the diocese of Winchester, responsible for the formation of priests.

In 1973 James became the suffragan bishop of Basingstoke . This office had been newly created and included responsibility for the northern part of the Diocese of Winchester. At the same time James was thus from 1973 to 1977 also Residenzkanoniker ( residentiary Canon ) at the Winchester Cathedral , because the church leadership of the Church of England had specified that should be connected to the office of Suffraganbischofs Basingstoke with a function at the cathedral of Winchester.

In 1977 he became Bishop of Wakefield . From 1985 to 1995 he was then, as the successor to John Vernon Taylor , Bishop of Winchester . His successor in office was Michael Scott-Joynt .

James had been married to Sally Henshaw since 1962. She died in 2001. They had a son and two daughters.

James died on December 10, 2009 after a brief illness at the age of 83.

Membership in the House of Lords

James was a Spiritual Lord in the House of Lords from 1982 to 1995 . His inaugural address was given on April 11, 1983.

Working in public

James has been discussed twice as Archbishop of Canterbury . First when Arthur Michael Ramsey retired in 1974 and again in 1990 when a successor to Robert Runcie was sought.

James belonged in the Church of England to the direction of Anglo-Catholicism , which made Anglicanism Catholic , i.e. H. interpreted sacramentally and in unbroken tradition with the ancient Church .

James was seen as a fundamental opponent of the ordination of women . The consecration is why he left for women in general his auxiliary bishops. However, he always granted priestesses in the Church of England the same rights as their male counterparts and regarded priests and priestesses as equal. James wasn't generally conservative, though. As chairman of the liturgical commission of the Church of England ( Liturgical Commission ) he was responsible for introducing many new, freer forms of worship.

He later became chairman of the Church Information Committee , responsible for the press, radio and television departments at Church House in Westminster . He also served as chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Council for the BBC and the Independent Broadcasting Authority at a time when there were plans to abolish fixed airtime for religious radio and television broadcasts.

Web links

• Colin James at Hansard (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Church mourns Colin James In: Hampshire Chronicle, December 12, 2009
2. ↑ Colin James ( Memento of May 5, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) Obituary in: Yorkshire Post of December 18, 2009
3. ↑ Deaths ( Memento from July 30, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) News of death in: Church Times from December 18, 2009
4. ^ The Right Reverend Colin James obituary in: The Telegraph, December 22, 2009

predecessor	Office	successor
-	Bishop of Basingstoke 1973–1977	Michael Manktelow
Eric Treacy	Bishop of Wakefield 1977–1985	David Hope
John Vernon Taylor	Bishop of Winchester 1985–1995	Michael Scott-Joynt