Richard Cheetham

Richard Ian Cheetham (born 18 August 1955) is a Church of England bishop and former teacher. Since 2002, he has been the current Anglican area Bishop of Kingston.^[3]

Early life

He was educated at Kingston Grammar School.^[4] He studied physics and philosophy at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA). He remained at the University of Oxford to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).^[5]

Having qualified, he taught science at a comprehensive school in Richmond, North Yorkshire, from 1978 to 1980. He then moved to Eton College, Windsor, where he was Assistant Physics Master from 1980 to 1983. After five years teaching, he left the profession to become an investment analyst.^[5]

Church career

Cheetham left his career and in 1985 began preparation for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon. Having completed a Certificate in Theology and he was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1987. The following year, in 1988, he was ordained a priest.^[5]

He began his career as curate at Holy Cross, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne and from 1990 until 1999 he was vicar of St Augustine of Canterbury's Church, Luton and additionally (from 1995) Rural Dean of the area.^[6] From 1999 to 2002 he was Archdeacon of St Albans.^[7] He was enthroned as area Bishop of Kingston in Southwark Cathedral on 27 October 2002.^[1] As the senior suffragan bishop in post at the time of Tom Butler's retirement on 5 March 2010, Cheetham served as Acting Bishop of Southwark from then until his fellow suffragan Christopher Chessun became Bishop of Southwark on 17 January 2011.^[8]

In 1999 Cheetham completed his PhD as an external student of King's College London.^[4] His thesis was entitled, 'The nature and status of religious belief in contemporary Britain (with particular reference to the concept of 'truth') as reflected by acts of collective worship in a sample of Luton schools since the 1988 Education Reform Act'. A book, Collective Worship: issues and opportunities, followed in 2004. He became an Honorary Research Fellow of King's College London in 2011. Cheetham is also a keen sportsman.^[4]

Cheetham is Chair of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, Anglican President of the Christian Muslim Forum,^[9] Patron of the Fircroft Trust,^[10] the Curriculum for Cohesion and Kingston Bereavement Service. Until 2012 he was a member of the Roehampton University Council. He is President of the YMCA London South West who have a large multi-function building in Surbiton^[11] and became Chair of the British Regional Committee of St. George's College, Jerusalem, in May 2013.

Styles

• The Reverend Richard Cheetham (1987–February 1999)^[2]
• The Venerable Richard Cheetham (February–October 1999)
• The Venerable Doctor Richard Cheetham (October 1999–2002)
• The Right Reverend Doctor Richard Cheetham (2002–present)

References

External links

• Official website

Sources

• Crockford's clerical directory : a directory of the clergy of the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland. (100th ed.). London: Church House Publishing. 2008–2009. ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0. OCLC 505322212. 
• Debrett's People of Today 2008. London: Debrett's. 2007. ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9. OCLC 764415351. 
• Who's Who 2008. London: A & C Black. 2007. ISBN 0-7136-8555-7. OCLC 154704182.