Andrew Burnham (priest)

The Reverend Monsignor Andrew Burnham
Other posts	Bishop of Ebbsfleet (C of E; 2000–2010)
Orders
Ordination	13 January 2011 (Catholic Church)
Consecration	30 November 2000[1] (C of E)
Personal details
Born	19 March 1948 Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England
Nationality	British
Denomination	Roman Catholic (formerly Anglican)
Spouse	Cathy
Children	2
Profession	Priest, former teacher
Alma mater	New College, Oxford

Andrew Burnham (born 19 March 1948) is an English priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Burnham was formerly a bishop of the Church of England and served as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet in the Province of Canterbury from 2000 to 2010. He resigned in order to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest for the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham on 15 January 2011.

Early life

Burnham was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire and studied music at New College, Oxford. He later studied theology at New College before going on to do a Certificate of Education at Westminster College, Oxford. Following this he became Head of Music at Bilborough Grammar School in Nottingham.

Anglican ministry

Burnham trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford, although following ordination he had issues with committing to the priesthood and leaving music, a great passion of his which formed a major part of his life. He was chorus master of the Nottingham Harmonic Society from 1973 to 1985. The Bishop of Southwell therefore suggested that he became a non-stipendiary priest. However, his wife eventually persuaded him to devote himself to full-time ministry.^[2]

From 1983 to 1985, Burnham was honorary curate in Clifton in the Diocese of Southwell as a non-stipendiary priest. In 1985 he became curate at St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston, in the same diocese from 1985 until 1987. He then became vicar of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Carrington, leaving in 1994 following his appointment as Vice-Principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford, a position he began in 1995.

On 12 September 2000, Burnham was announced as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet, a provincial episcopal visitor (a so-called "flying bishop") who provides episcopal oversight for parishes that do not accept the ordination of women as priests.^[3] The appointment was confirmed by Letters Patent issued by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 November 2000.^[4]

Ordination in the Roman Catholic Church

On 8 July 2008, Burnham announced his intention to lead his Anglo-Catholic parishioners into unity with the Roman Catholic Church because of disagreement about provision for those opposed to the proposed ordination of women as bishops in the Church of England. In a column in the Catholic Herald, Burnham asked Pope Benedict XVI to provide a way for his parishioners to join him in the move.^[5][6]

On 8 November 2010, Burnham was one of five Anglican bishops who announced their resignations and their intention to join the proposed personal ordinariate in England and Wales.^[7][8] His resignation took effect on 31 December 2010.

Burnham was received into the Roman Catholic Church at a Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 1 January 2011. Also received at the same ceremony were Keith Newton (former Bishop of Richborough) and his wife, John Broadhurst (former Bishop of Fulham) and his wife, Judith, and three former sisters of the Society of St Margaret (Walsingham)- Sister Carolyne Joseph, Sister Jane Louise and Sister Wendy Renate.^[9] On 13 January 2011 he was ordained to the diaconate with two other former Church of England bishops, John Broadhurst and Keith Newton.^[10] Two days later, on 15 January 2011, they were also ordained to the priesthood together. On this date the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales was also officially established.^[11] On 17 March it was announced that Burnham had been appointed a Prelate of Honour by the Pope.^[12]

Styles

• Andrew Burnham (1948–1982)
• The Revd Andrew Burnham (1982–2000)
• The Rt Revd Andrew Burnham (2000–2010)
• Andrew Burnham (1–13 January 2011)
• The Revd Andrew Burnham (13 January 2011 – 17 March 2011)
• The Revd Monsignor Andrew Burnham (17 March 2011 – present)

References

1. See of Ebbsfleet — Background
2. Interview with Burnham upon his appointment as Bishop of Ebbsfleet
3. Press release by then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey upon Burnham's ascension to the episcopate
4. The London Gazette: no. 56041. p. 13353. 27 November 2000. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
5. The Rt Revd Andrew Burnham, Bishop of Ebbsfleet (2008-07-11). "Anglo-Catholics must now decide". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 11 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
6. "Bishop 'ready to defect to Rome'". BBC News. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
7. Ross, Tim (8 November 2010). "Five Anglican bishops quit Church of England for Rome". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
8. "Statement from five bishops". FiF International News. Forward in Faith. Archived from the original on 11 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
9. "Three ex-Anglican bishops are received into full communion", The Catholic Herald (1 January 2011)
10. "Online Magazine Following Birth of 1st Ordinariate". Zenit. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
11. Holy See Press Office Statement about the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and Wales
12. Pope Benedict XVI honours Priests of the Ordinariate