George Cassidy (bishop)

The Rt Revd
George Cassidy
BSc MPhil[1]
Bishop of Southwell (later
Southwell and Nottingham)
Diocese Diocese of Southwell (later Southwell and Nottingham)
In office 1999–31 August 2009
Predecessor Patrick Harris
Successor Paul Butler
Other posts Archdeacon of London
1987–1999
Orders
Ordination 1972
Consecration 1999
Personal details
Born (1942-10-17) 17 October 1942
Denomination Anglican
Parents Joseph Abram Cassidy
& Ethel McDonald
Spouse Jane Barling Stevens
m. 1966
Children 2 daughters
Alma mater Queen's University, Belfast

George Henry Cassidy (born 17 October 1942) is a British Anglican bishop and the most recent Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.[2]

The son of Joseph Abram Cassidy and Ethel McDonald, Cassidy was educated at Belfast High School and Queen's University, Belfast, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in politics and economics in 1965. He was further educated in University College, London (where he graduated with a Master of Philosophy degree in 1967) and at Oak Hill Theological College, London. He was ordained in 1972.[3]

Cassidy worked as planning officer in the Ministry of Development of Northern Ireland from 1967 to 1968 and in the Department of Lands and Settlements, Kenya from 1968 to 1970. From 1972 to 1975 he was curate of Christ Church, Clifton, from 1975 to 1982 the vicar of St Edyth's, Sea Mills and of St Paul's, Portman Square, London from 1982 to 1987. From 1987 to 1999, he was an archdeacon and a canon residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral. Having been appointed the 10th Bishop of Southwell in 1999, in 2005 the territorial designation of Nottingham was added to his position. On 9 May 2008, it was announced that Cassidy would retire,[4] and, in July 2009, he formally retired.

Cassidy received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2005 [5]

Cassidy spent much of his time in the House of Lords, where he voted against the Equality Act in early 2007. He was also one of the rebel bishops who signed a letter against Rowan Williams' decision not to block the appointment of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading in 2003. The other diocesan bishop signatories (referred to by their opponents, since there were nine, as the Nazgûl) were: Michael Scott-Joynt (Bishop of Winchester), Michael Langrish (Exeter), Michael Nazir-Ali (Rochester), Peter Forster (Chester), James Jones (Liverpool), Graham Dow (Carlisle), John Hind (Chichester) and David James (Bradford).[6]

Regarded as a conservative Evangelical, Cassidy is noted for his strong opposition to the ordination of openly gay priests.

Since 1966, Cassidy has been married to Jane Barling Stevens; they have two daughters.[7]

References

  1. Number 10 – Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham (archived)
  2. DodOnline
  3. Crockfords On-line accessed 31 May 2008]
  4. Diocese of Southwell — Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham to retire...
  5. "Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh & Scottish Borders: Annual Review 2004". www1.hw.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  6. Frost's Meditations – Nazir-Ali
  7. Who's Who2008 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
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