The Right Reverend

Richard Frith
Bishop of Hereford
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Hereford
In office2014–2019
PredecessorAnthony Priddis
SuccessorRichard Jackson
Other post(s)Archdeacon of Taunton (1992–1998)
Bishop of Hull (1998–2014)
Orders
Ordination1974 (deacon)
1975 (priest)
by Mervyn Stockwood
Consecrationc. 1998
Personal details
Born (1949-04-08) 8 April 1949 (age 74)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
ParentsRoger Frith
Spouse1.
​
​
(m. 1975⁠–⁠2000)​

2.
​
​
(m. 2006)​
ChildrenFour, including James Frith
Alma materFitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Richard Michael Cockayne Frith[1] (born 8 April 1949) is a British retired Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Hull and Bishop of Hereford.

Early life

Frith was born into a clerical family on 8 April 1949; his father was Roger Cokayne Frith, sometime canon and Vicar of Feltwell.[2] He was educated at Marlborough College[3] and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.[4] He undertook training for ministry at St John's College, Nottingham.

Ordained ministry

Frith was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1974 (6 October)[5] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (28 September 1975), both times by Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral.[6] He began his ordained ministry as a curate in Mortlake, after which he was Vicar of Thamesmead. Following this he was Rector of Keynsham.[2] Finally, before his ordination to the episcopate, he was the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1992.[7]

Frith is also a trustee of maritime welfare charity the Mission to Seafarers.[8]

Episcopal ministry

In January 1999, Frith became suffragan Bishop of Hull.[9] On 16 July 2014, it was announced that Frith was to become the next Bishop of Hereford.[10] His canonical election was confirmed on 17 October 2014[11] and he was installed 22 November 2014 in Hereford Cathedral.[12] His retirement has been announced, effective 30 November 2019.[13]

Views

Frith is a supporter of introducing a blessing service to follow a civil same-sex marriage or civil partnership.[14]

Personal life

Frith was married first to Jill Richardson from 1975 until 2000, having four children,[4] and remarried in 2006.[7] His son, James, was the Labour MP for Bury North.[15][16]

Styles

References

  1. ^ Anglican Communion
  2. ^ a b "Richard Michael Cockayne Frith". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ Burkes peerage
  4. ^ a b "Frith, Richard Michael Cockayne". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 28 June 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. ^ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 5826. 11 October 1974. p. 17. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. ^ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 5877. 3 October 1975. p. 8. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. ^ a b Diocese of York — Rt Revd Richard Frith
  8. ^ "MtS Trustee Richard Frith appointed Bishop of Hereford". 18 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Profile - Richard Frith" (PDF). The Mission to Seafarers. Retrieved 28 March 2018. He was appointed Archdeacon of Taunton in 1992, before moving north in January 1999 to take up his current post as Suffragan Bishop of Hull.
  10. ^ Diocese of Hereford – New Bishop named for Diocese of Hereford Archived 2016-03-28 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 16 July 2014)
  11. ^ Hereford Cathedral – Bishop Richard Frith elected as 105th bishop of Hereford Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 27 September 2014)
  12. ^ Diocese of Hereford - Bishop's Office
  13. ^ "Diocese of Hereford - News - Bishop of Hereford Retirement". Archived from the original on 3 May 2019.
  14. ^ May, Callum (20 October 2017). "Church to discuss same-sex blessing". BBC News. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  15. ^ James, Aaron (27 April 2015). "Bishop's son running for Parliament". Premier Christian Radio. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Labour's James Frith gains marginal Bury North from Conservatives". BBC News Online. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
Church of England titles Preceded byJames Jones Bishop of Hull 1998–2014 Succeeded byAlison White Preceded byAnthony Priddis Bishop of Hereford 2014–2019 Succeeded byRichard Jackson
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