David Lunn
Encyclopedia
David Ramsay Lunn is a former Bishop of Sheffield
in the Church of England
. Lunn was born on Tyneside
, he served as Bishop of Sheffield from 1980 to 1997.
An Anglo-Catholic, he was opposed to the ordination of women
, seeing it as an issue that needed an examination at an ecumenical level. During his episcopacy, he oversaw an increase in lay ministry
within the diocese, but also increased the number of clergy, and improved the diocese's financial position. The period also saw the creation of the Nine O'Clock Service
within one of the diocese's churches. Initially this seemed to be a successful attempt to broaden the appeal of the church, but in the end the project collapsed, and required strong leadership from Lunn to heal the resulting wounds. Following the Hillsborough Disaster
, he implemented the clergy disaster plan to improve the church's response to such disasters in future.
In 1997 Lunn was awarded an honorary LL.D. degree by Sheffield University. On retirement he became an assistant bishop
in the Diocese of York.
A keen gardener, he also wrote the booklet Roses Wild: A littlle book by the Bishop of Sheffield concerning the roses in his garden at Bishopscroft
Bishop of Sheffield
The Bishop of Sheffield is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Sheffield in the Province of York.The title was first created as a suffragan see in the Diocese of York in 1901. The only suffragan bishop of Sheffield assisted the Archbishop of York in overseeing the diocese...
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. Lunn was born on Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
, he served as Bishop of Sheffield from 1980 to 1997.
An Anglo-Catholic, he was opposed to the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
, seeing it as an issue that needed an examination at an ecumenical level. During his episcopacy, he oversaw an increase in lay ministry
Lay ministry
Lay ministry is a term used for members of faiths and Christian denominations who are not full-time paid clergy, or not ordained clergy, but who perform the same or similar function....
within the diocese, but also increased the number of clergy, and improved the diocese's financial position. The period also saw the creation of the Nine O'Clock Service
Nine O'Clock Service
The Nine O'Clock Service was a youth-oriented alternative Christian worship service started, before a 1985 John Wimber Signs and Wonders conference in Sheffield, in 1986 at St Thomas' Church in Crookes, Sheffield, United Kingdom by a group of Christian musicians and artists...
within one of the diocese's churches. Initially this seemed to be a successful attempt to broaden the appeal of the church, but in the end the project collapsed, and required strong leadership from Lunn to heal the resulting wounds. Following the Hillsborough Disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
, he implemented the clergy disaster plan to improve the church's response to such disasters in future.
In 1997 Lunn was awarded an honorary LL.D. degree by Sheffield University. On retirement he became an assistant bishop
Assistant Bishop
An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop.-Church of England:In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually are retired bishops – in which case they are honorary assistant bishops...
in the Diocese of York.
Works
Lunn wrote a multi-volume history of the area covered by the diocese including Rivers, Rectors and Abbots and Kings, Canals and CoalA keen gardener, he also wrote the booklet Roses Wild: A littlle book by the Bishop of Sheffield concerning the roses in his garden at Bishopscroft