John Gibbs (Bishop)
Encyclopedia
John Gibbs was an Anglican bishop
. He was the Bishop of Coventry in the Church of England
from 1976 until 1985. He was the first Church of England bishop in modern times to have started his ministry in the nonconformist
tradition.
Born in Heywood, Lancashire
on the 15 March 1917, he left school to begin work before entering Western College, Bristol for training as a Congregational Minister. From 1943, the year of his marriage, until 1949 he held a number of local ministries in the Bristol area. The turning point in his career was joining the Student Christian Movement
. This meant he liaised with many churches and, becoming drawn to the Anglican tradition, he re-trained at Lincoln Theological College and took up a curacy at St Luke's Bristol
. His, however, was an educational vocation and in 1957 he became head of Divinity at St Matthias Teacher Training College, Bristol
, rising to Vice-Principal in 1962. In 1964 Gibbs was appointed head of Keswick Hall College of Education in Norfolk
. From 1967 he was a key member of the Durham Commission on the future of Religious Education in Schools. In 1968 he was appointed an honorary canon
of Norwich Cathedral
and in 1973 he was appointed suffragan bishop
of Bradwell in Essex. Three years later he replaced the more flamboyant Cuthbert Bardsley
as Bishop of Coventry, eventually serving for nine years. One of his proudest achievements was founding Myton Hamlet Hospice and when he retired to Minchinhampton
near Stroud, Gloucestershire
he was a leading figure in helping to start the Cotswold Care Hospice. In July 2006, while visiting his daughter near Cambridge he became completely paralysed from mid chest downwards. He found a new home in the Hope Nursing Home in Cambridge where he died on 20 December 2007.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was the Bishop of Coventry 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...
from 1976 until 1985. He was the first Church of England bishop in modern times to have started his ministry in the nonconformist
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
tradition.
Born in Heywood, Lancashire
Heywood, Greater Manchester
Heywood is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the south bank of the River Roch and is east of Bury, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north of the city of Manchester. The town of Middleton lies to the south, whilst to the north is the...
on the 15 March 1917, he left school to begin work before entering Western College, Bristol for training as a Congregational Minister. From 1943, the year of his marriage, until 1949 he held a number of local ministries in the Bristol area. The turning point in his career was joining the Student Christian Movement
World Student Christian Federation
The World Student Christian Federation is a federation of autonomous national Student Christian Movements forming the youth and student arm of the global ecumenical movement...
. This meant he liaised with many churches and, becoming drawn to the Anglican tradition, he re-trained at Lincoln Theological College and took up a curacy at St Luke's Bristol
St Luke's Church, Brislington
The Parish Church of St Luke The Evangelist Church Parade, Brislington area of Bristol, England BS4 5AZ.It was built in 15th century, with the north arcade and aisle being remodelled in 1819, and the east end in 1874 by Benjamin Ferrey...
. His, however, was an educational vocation and in 1957 he became head of Divinity at St Matthias Teacher Training College, Bristol
St Matthias, Bristol
St Matthias is one of the campuses belonging to the University of the West of England. The campus is located in the suburb of Fishponds in Bristol.-History:...
, rising to Vice-Principal in 1962. In 1964 Gibbs was appointed head of Keswick Hall College of Education in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. From 1967 he was a key member of the Durham Commission on the future of Religious Education in Schools. In 1968 he was appointed an honorary canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
and in 1973 he was appointed suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of Bradwell in Essex. Three years later he replaced the more flamboyant Cuthbert Bardsley
Cuthbert Bardsley
Cuthbert Killick Norman Bardsley CBE was the Anglican Bishop of Coventry from 1956 to 1976.- Early life :He was born on 28 March 1907, the younger son of a Church of England Canon. He was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. He died in 1991....
as Bishop of Coventry, eventually serving for nine years. One of his proudest achievements was founding Myton Hamlet Hospice and when he retired to Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton
Minchinhampton is an ancient market town, located on a hilltop south-south-east of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, in the Cotswolds. The town is twinned with Nkokoto, in Tanzania....
near Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
he was a leading figure in helping to start the Cotswold Care Hospice. In July 2006, while visiting his daughter near Cambridge he became completely paralysed from mid chest downwards. He found a new home in the Hope Nursing Home in Cambridge where he died on 20 December 2007.
Styles
- Mr John Gibbs (1917–?)
- The Revd John Gibbs (?–1968)
- The Revd Canon John Gibbs (1968–1973)
- The Rt Revd John Gibbs (1973–2007)