Robert Paterson (bishop)

The Right Reverend Robert Paterson
Bishop of Sodor and Man
Diocese	Diocese of Sodor and Man
In office	2008–present
Predecessor	Graeme Knowles
Other posts	Dean of Peel (ex officio; 2008–2011) Member of the Legislative Council (ex officio; 2008–present)
Orders
Ordination	1972[1]
Consecration	25 April 2008
Personal details
Born	27 February 1949
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Pauline Anne[1]
Children	One son and two daughters[1]
Alma mater	St John's College, Durham

Robert Mar Erskine Paterson MLC (born 27 February 1949) is Bishop of Sodor and Man in the Church of England.

Church career

He was educated and trained at St John's College and Cranmer Hall, Durham.

From 1972 to 1973 he was a curate in Manchester and then transferred to the Church in Wales where he undertook a further curacy in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon from 1973 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983 he was Rector of two parishes and World Mission Officer. From 1983 to 1994 he was a Vicar in Cardiff and then Team Rector until 2000 in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. From 2000 to 2006 he was Principal Officer of the Church in Wales Council for Mission and Ministry. He has served on a number of national and international bodies, and has been Vice Chair of the Anglican Primates' working group on theological education. In 2004 he was made a canon of the Province of Wales.^[2]

He was appointed chaplain and researcher to John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, in 2006 and was then nominated as the next Bishop of Sodor and Man in 2008^[3] to replace Graeme Knowles. The appointment was confirmed by Letters Patent issued by Elizabeth II on 18 April 2008.^[4] He was consecrated as a bishop on 25 April 2008 at York Minster.^[5] He was enthroned Bishop of Sodor and Man on 14 June 2008 at St German's Cathedral in Peel, Isle of Man.^[6][7]

He is author of a number of books on liturgy and preaching and his interests include current affairs, early music, literature, walking, cycling and the countryside. As the island's bishop, he sits ex officio on the Legislative Council of Tynwald and has a vote in the Manx Parliament. On 20 February 2013, Paterson spoke and voted in Tynwald Court, the two branches of the parliament of the Isle of Man assembled, in favour of a proposal to impose fees & associated debt obligations onto students from the island wishing to continue into tertiary level education.

Styles

• The Reverend Robert Paterson (1972–2004)
• The Reverend Canon Robert Paterson (2004–2008)
• The Right Reverend Robert Paterson (2008–present)

References

1. Tynwald Biography
2. Wales Online — Canon moves on (Accessed 9 November 2015)
3. "Diocese of Sodor and Man". 10 Downing Street. Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
4. The London Gazette: no. 58678. p. 6303. 24 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
5. "York Minster—Services and events calendar". Dean and Chapter of York Minster. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
6. "Appointment of new Bishop of Sodor and Man". Diocesan website of Sodor and Man. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
7. "Recovering tradition". Church Times, Issue 7580. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30.