John William Goddard is the current Bishop of Burnley

Bishop of Burnley

The Bishop of Burnley is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn, in the Province of York, England.The title takes its name after the town of Burnley in Lancashire...

. He was educated at Durham University

Durham University

The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...

. He was ordained in 1971 and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy

Curate

A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...

 at St John, Southbank

South Bank, Middlesbrough

South Bank is a small town which forms part of the Middlesbrough urban area that lies 2.3 miles from Middlesbrough centre, in North East England. As the name suggests, it lies on the south bank of the River Tees. Although it is part of the Middlesbrough conurbation, it is a ward of Redcar and...

. Following this he held two incumbencies

Vicar

In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...

 in Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...

 and was then Rural Dean

Rural Dean

In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...

 of the area

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...

. From 1988 to 1992 he was Vice Principal of Edinburgh Theological College

Edinburgh Theological College

Edinburgh Theological College was founded in 1810 to train Anglican clergy to serve in the Scottish Episcopal Church . In 1891 the College moved to Coates Hall in Grosvenor Crescent where it gradually expanded to include residential accommodation and a library . The College’s academic gown was ...

 and then Rector

Rector

The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...

 of Ribbleton

Ribbleton

Ribbleton is a suburb and ward of the city of Preston, Lancashire, England. It is located to the east of the city centre, between the A59 New Hall Lane and the B6243 Longridge Road. The M6 motorway also runs through the area...

 before his elevation to the episcopate. A keen narrowboat

Narrowboat

A narrowboat or narrow boat is a boat of a distinctive design, made to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain.In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals...

er, Bishop John is married with two children.

Styles

• John Goddard Esq (1947–1971)
• The Revd John Goddard (1971–1987/8)
• The Revd Canon John Goddard (1987/8–2000)
• The Rt Revd John Goddard (2000—)