Richard Frith Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Right Reverend
Richard Frith
Bishop of Hereford
Church:Church of England
Diocese:Diocese of Hereford
Term:2014–2019
Predecessor:Anthony Priddis
Successor:Richard Jackson
Ordination:1974 (deacon)
1975 (priest)
Ordained By:Mervyn Stockwood
Birth Date:8 April 1949
Nationality:British
Religion:Anglican
Parents:Roger Frith
Spouse:1.
2.
Children:Four, including James Frith
Alma Mater:Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Richard Michael Cockayne Frith[1] (born 8 April 1949) is a British retired Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Hull and Bishop of Hereford.

Early life

Frith was born into a clerical family on 8 April 1949; his father was Roger Cokayne Frith, sometime canon and Vicar of Feltwell. He was educated at Marlborough College[2] and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He undertook training for ministry at St John's College, Nottingham.

Ordained ministry

Frith was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1974 (6 October) and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (28 September 1975), both times by Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral. He began his ordained ministry as a curate in Mortlake, after which he was Vicar of Thamesmead. Following this he was Rector of Keynsham. Finally, before his ordination to the episcopate, he was the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1992.[3]

Frith is also a trustee of maritime welfare charity the Mission to Seafarers.[4]

Episcopal ministry

In January 1999, Frith became suffragan Bishop of Hull.[5] On 16 July 2014, it was announced that Frith was to become the next Bishop of Hereford.[6] His canonical election was confirmed on 17 October 2014[7] and he was installed 22 November 2014 in Hereford Cathedral.[8] His retirement has been announced, effective 30 November 2019.[9]

Views

Frith is a supporter of introducing a blessing service to follow a civil same-sex marriage or civil partnership.[10]

Personal life

Frith was married first to Jill Richardson from 1975 until 2000, having four children, and remarried in 2006. His son, James, is the Labour MP for Bury North.[11] [12]

Styles

References

  1. http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/cathedral.cfm?IDNUMBER=6952 Anglican Communion
  2. http://www.burkespeerage.com/FamilyHomepage.aspx?FID=5014 Burkes peerage
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20130819213720/http://www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/diocesan-info/people/archbishops-staff/01242.html Diocese of York — Rt Revd Richard Frith
  4. Web site: MtS Trustee Richard Frith appointed Bishop of Hereford. 18 July 2014. 19 July 2014.
  5. Web site: Profile - Richard Frith . . 2018-03-28 . He was appointed Archdeacon of Taunton in 1992, before moving north in January 1999 to take up his current post as Suffragan Bishop of Hull..
  6. http://hereford.anglican.org/news/1673/new-bishop-named-for-diocese-of-hereford.aspx Diocese of Hereford – New Bishop named for Diocese of Hereford
  7. http://www.herefordcathedral.org/about-us/news/bishop-richard-frith-elected-as-105th-bishop-of-hereford Hereford Cathedral – Bishop Richard Frith elected as 105th bishop of Hereford
  8. http://hereford.anglican.org/churchwork/bishops_office/index.aspx Diocese of Hereford - Bishop's Office
  9. Web site: Diocese of Hereford - News - Bishop of Hereford Retirement. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503191627/https://www.hereford.anglican.org/news/2019/01/07/bishop-hereford-announcement-7th-jan-2019/. 2019-05-03.
  10. Web site: May. Callum. Church to discuss same-sex blessing. BBC News. 20 October 2017. 20 October 2017.
  11. News: James . Aaron . Bishop's son running for Parliament . . 2015-04-27 . 2019-05-29.
  12. News: Labour's James Frith gains marginal Bury North from Conservatives . . 2017-06-09 . 2019-05-29.