Michael Ipgrave

The Right Reverend Michael Ipgrave OBE
Bishop of Woolwich
Diocese	Diocese of Southwark
In office	March 2012–present
Predecessor	Christopher Chessun
Other posts	Archdeacon of Southwark (2004–2012) Bishop-designate of Lichfield (2016 onwards)
Orders
Ordination	1982 (deacon) 1983 (priest)
Consecration	21 March 2012
Personal details
Born	19 April 1958 Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Education	Magdalen College School, Brackley
Alma mater	Oriel College, Oxford Ripon College Cuddesdon

Michael Geoffrey Ipgrave, OBE (born 18 April 1958) is a British Anglican bishop. Since 2012, he has been the Bishop of Woolwich, an area bishop in the Diocese of Southwark.^[1] He served as Archdeacon of Southwark between 2004 and 2012.

Early life and education

Ipgrave was born on 19 April 1958 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom.^[2] He was educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley, a state school in South Northamptonshire.^[3] From 1975 to 1978, he studied mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.^[2] From 1979 to 1982, he trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college near Oxford.^[2][4] During that period he also studied theology at the University of Oxford, and graduated with a additional first class BA.^[2]

Ordained ministry

Ipgrave was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1982 and as a priest in 1983 in the Diocese of Peterborough.^[4] After a curacy in Oakham followed by time in Japan, he was a team vicar in two separate Leicester parishes.^[5]

In Leicester, in 1991, he was appointed diocesan chaplain for relations with people of other faiths, and bishops' domestic chaplain in 1992. He was appointed Archdeacon of Southwark in 2004. In 2010 he also became Canon Missioner of Southwark Cathedral. He is co-chair of Southwark and London Housing Association.

He was formerly Inter Faith Relations Advisor to the Archbishops' Council and secretary of the Churches' Commission on Inter-Faith Relations.

Episcopal ministry

On 3 February 2012, Ipgrave was announced as the next Bishop of Woolwich, an area bishop in the Diocese of Southwark.^[2] On 21 March 2012, he was consecrated a bishop during a service in Southwark Cathedral.^[1][2] He also served as Warden of Readers for the diocese.^[4]

In May 2013 Ipgrave read bidding prayers at a Mass for Lee Rigby who was murdered by Islamists in the 2013 Woolwich attack.^[6]

On 2 March 2016, it was announced that Ipgrave is to become diocesan Bishop of Lichfield later in 2016.^[4]

Personal life

Ipgrave is married to Julia and they have three grown-up sons.

Honours

Ipgrave was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2011 for services to inter-faith relations.

Selected works

He has edited six volumes on Christian and Muslim relations. He is author of Trinity and Inter Faith Dialogue (Peter Lang, 2003) and has contributed to journal articles and book chapters on inter-faith matters.

External links

• Interviewed on ANN TV 2015

References

1. "Episcopal Team completed in Southwark Diocese". Retrieved 21 March 2012.
2. "Two new Area Bishops for Southwark Diocese". Diocese of Southwark. Church of England. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
3. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
4. "Bishop of Lichfield: Michael Geoffrey Ipgrave". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
5. Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6
6. "Woolwich Mass for Drummer Rigby". The Tablet (The Tablet Publishing Company). May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.