Former vicar of Rudgwick to be made bishop

A priest, who has served in the parishes of Rudgwick and Horsham, will be consecrated as the Bishop of Lewes next week.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th May 2014, 13:13 BST
Rev Richard Jackson, who is to be appointed the Bishop of Lewes with his wife Deborah - picture by Jim Holden from the Diocese of Chichester.Rev Richard Jackson, who is to be appointed the Bishop of Lewes with his wife Deborah - picture by Jim Holden from the Diocese of Chichester.
Rev Richard Jackson, who is to be appointed the Bishop of Lewes with his wife Deborah - picture by Jim Holden from the Diocese of Chichester.

The Rev Richard Jackson will be installed into the post at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday May 14 by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishops, clergy and laity from across Sussex are expected to head for the capital to ensure that Richard, his wife Deborah and their three grown up children feel the support of the Diocese as he becomes the latest Church of England bishop.

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Rev Jackson studied first at Christ Church, Oxford and then at Cranfield Institute of Technology. He studied for his ordination at Trinity College, Bristol.

From 1994 to 1998 he served his first curacy at Lindfield and from 1998 to 2009 he was vicar at Rudgwick.

He also served as rural dean for Horsham from 2005 to 2009.

He is currently Mission Renewal Adviser and leader of the Church Growth Team in the Chichester Diocese.

The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, said: “Everyone is very excited and looking forward to the service enormously. It is super for the Chichester Diocese and for all his colleagues as we welcome this new chapter in the life of the Diocese.”

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The Consecration Service is packed with symbolism as the archbishop invites other bishops present to lay hands on the candidate to ordain them to the new ministry to which they have been called.

Special readings, hymns and prayers are offered and the music will reflect the significance of the occasion.

After his consecration, Bishop Richard, as he will then be known, will be welcomed at a special service on Sunday May 18 at 6pm in St Mary’s Church, Battle, East Sussex and Sunday June 22 at 6pm in St Paul’s Church, Brighton.

If you know Richard and would like to support him, go to the Diocese of Chichester website and follow the link to get tickets. Admission is free.

Related topics:Lewes