The Right Reverend

David Conner

GCVO
Dean of Windsor
Conner as Register of the Order of the Garter, 2006
ChurchSt George's Chapel at Windsor Castle
In office1998–2023
PredecessorPatrick Mitchell
Other post(s)Bishop to the Forces (2001–2009)
Bishop of Lynn (1994–1998)
Orders
Consecration2 February 1994
Personal details
Born (1947-04-06) 6 April 1947 (age 76)
Erith, Kent, England
DenominationChurch of England
Alma materErith Grammar School
Exeter College, Oxford

David John Conner, GCVO (born 6 April 1947)[1] is a British Anglican bishop. He served as Dean of Windsor from 1998 to 2023, and was additionally the Bishop to the Forces between 2001 and 2009. He previously served as Bishop of Lynn, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, from 1994 to 1998, and in school chaplaincy.[2][3] Conner retired effective 31 July 2023.[4]

Biography

Conner is the son of William Ernest Conner and Joan Millington Conner.[1] He was educated at Erith Grammar School, then Exeter College, Oxford[1] and St Stephen's House, Oxford. He was ordained as deacon on 29 June 1971 by Christopher Pepys, Bishop of Buckingham at St Martin's, Fenny Stratford.[5] Having also spent a year at the Oxford Department of Education, soon after ordination he moved into chaplaincy at St Edward's School, Oxford (where he was ordained priest in 1972 by Kenneth Woollcombe, Bishop of Oxford, in the School Chapel) from 1971 to 1980, and later at Winchester.[6] For a while, he was an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Winchester. From 1987 to 1994 he was Vicar of Great St Mary's the University Church, Cambridge. He served as Bishop of Lynn from 1994 to 1998, in which year he was appointed Dean of Windsor; in this role, Conner also holds the post of Register of the Order of the Garter and was a domestic chaplain to Elizabeth II. From 2001 to 2009 he was also Bishop to the Forces. He was consecrated as bishop on 2 February 1994 at St Paul's Cathedral, by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury.[7] His installation at Windsor on 7 December 1998 was attended by Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh;[8] he later presided over both of their interments in the King George VI Memorial Chapel on 19 September 2022, after the Queen's committal ceremony.

For many years Conner has been closely involved with the selection of candidates for ordination and with the inspection of theological colleges, courses and schemes. He has been governor of a number of schools and colleges. He is an honorary fellow of Girton College, Cambridge.

Honours

Conner was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2010 New Year Honours.[9] He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) on 19 July 2023 ahead of relinquishing the post of Dean of Windsor.[10]

He took part in the Royal Procession at the 2023 Coronation,[11] not long before his 31 July 2023 retirement.[4]

Personal life

In 1969, Conner married Jayne Maria Evans; they have two sons.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Who's Who 2012 – Conner, David John
  2. ^ Archbishop of Canterbury statement Archived 2009-12-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Debrett's People of Today London, 2008, Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
  4. ^ a b "Dean of Windsor". Thinking Anglicans. 7 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Ordinations at St. Peter's-tide". Church Times. No. 5655. 2 July 1971. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 21 February 2016 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
  7. ^ "picture caption". Church Times. No. 6835. 11 February 1994. p. 3. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 3 September 2020 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. ^ Court Circular, 7 December 1998 (Accessed via royal.uk, 28 July 2021)
  9. ^ "No. 59282". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2009. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Honours & Awards". London Gazette. 2023.
  11. ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.


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