George Henry Cassidy
Encyclopedia
George Henry Cassidy is a British
Anglican bishop and the most recent Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
.
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.
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, and, in July 2009, he formally retired.
Cassidy spends much of his time in the House of Lords
where he voted against the Equality Act in early 2007. He was one of the "rebel" bishops who signed a letter against the appointment of the Reverend Jeffrey John
as the Bishop of Reading in 2003. The others were the Bishops of Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Exeter, Liverpool, Rochester and Winchester. They are known to their opponents as the "Nazgûl
".
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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Anglican bishop and the most recent Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham is the diocesan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham in the Province of York.The diocese covers including the whole of Nottinghamshire and a small area of South Yorkshire...
.
The son of Joseph Abram Cassidy and Ethel McDonald, Cassidy was educated at Belfast High School
Belfast High School
Belfast High School is a Voluntary Grammar School located at Jordanstown in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It lies within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area....
and Queen's University, Belfast, where he received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in politics and economics in 1965. He was further educated in University College, London (where he graduated with a Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
degree in 1967) and at Oak Hill Theological College
Oak Hill Theological College
Oak Hill College is a theological college located on Chase Side in Southgate, London, England. It is one of the largest seminaries in the UK....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was ordained in 1972.
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
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
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
Sea Mills, Bristol
Sea Mills is a suburb of the English port city of Bristol. It is situated some 3.5 miles north-west of the city centre, towards the seaward end of the Avon Gorge. Nearby suburbs are Shirehampton, Sneyd Park, Combe Dingle and Stoke Bishop...
and of St Paul's, Portman Square
Portman Square
Portman Square is a square in London, part of the Portman Estate. It is located at the western end of Wigmore Street, which connects it to Cavendish Square to its east. It is served by London bus route 274...
, London from 1982 to 1987. From 1987 to 1999, he was an archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
and a canon residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
. Having been appointed the 10th Bishop of Southwell in 1999, in 2005 the territorial designation of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
was added to his position. On 9 May 2008, it was announced that Cassidy would retire, and, in July 2009, he formally retired.
Cassidy spends much of his time in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
where he voted against the Equality Act in early 2007. He was one of the "rebel" bishops who signed a letter against the appointment of the Reverend Jeffrey John
Jeffrey John
Jeffrey Philip Hywel John SCP is a Church of England priest and the current Dean of St Albans. He made headlines in 2003 when he was the first person to have openly been in a same-sex relationship to be nominated as a Church of England bishop...
as the Bishop of Reading in 2003. The others were the Bishops of Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Exeter, Liverpool, Rochester and Winchester. They are known to their opponents as the "Nazgûl
Nazgûl
The Nazgûl are fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium...
".
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.