Robert Ladds | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Whitby | |
_(Robert_Ladds_cropped).jpg) Ladds in 2009 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Province | York |
| Diocese | York |
| See | Whitby |
| In office | 1999–2008 |
| Predecessor | Gordon Bates |
| Successor | Martin Warner |
| Other post(s) | Honorary assistant bishop in London (2009–present) Archdeacon of Lancaster (1997–1999) Currently Superior general of The Society of Mary (Anglican) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1980 (deacon) 1981 (priest) |
| Consecration | 29 September 1999[1] by David Hope |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 November 1941 |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Sidney and Joan Cant |
| Spouse |
Roberta Sparkes (m. 1964) |
| Children | 3 sons |
| Profession | Bishop (former chemist and schoolmaster) |
| Alma mater | Christ Church College Canterbury |
Robert Sidney Ladds SSC (born 15 November 1941) is an English Anglican bishop. From 1999 to 2008, he served as the Bishop of Whitby, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York.[2]
Ladds was born on 15 November 1941.[3] After school, he worked as an industrial research chemist from 1959 to 1968.[3] He then attended Christ Church College, Canterbury to train as a teacher.[4] He completed a Certificate in Education (CertEd) in 1970 and a Bachelor of Education (BEd Hons) degree in 1971: these qualifications were validated by the University of London.[3] He was awarded the Licentiate of the Royal Society of Chemistry (LRSC) in 1972.[5] He was a chemistry teacher at Borden Grammar School, an all-boys school in Sittingbourne, before being ordained.[4]
Having trained on a part-time basis with the Canterbury School of Ministry, Ladds was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1980 and as a priest in 1981.[5] He began his ordained ministry as a curate in Hythe, Kent.[6][7] From 1983 to 1991, he was Rector of St John the Baptist's Church, Bretherton in the Diocese of Blackburn.[5] He was additionally school chaplain of Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy from 1983 to 1987 and Bishop of Blackburn's chaplain for ministry from 1986 to 1990.[3] From 1991 to 1997, he served successively as priest in charge and then rector of Preston.[5] He was made an honorary canon of Blackburn Cathedral in 1993.[3] He then served as Archdeacon of Lancaster from 1997 to 1999.[5]
Ladds was consecrated a bishop on 29 September 1999 during a service at York Minster.[5][8] He served as Bishop of Whitby, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York from 1999 to 2008.[5]
Ladds retired from full-time ministry in 2009 at the age of 68.[5] He has maintained an active retirement. He has been an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of London since 2009.[5] He was house-for-duty priest of St Mary and Christ Church, Hendon from 2009 to 2015.[3] He was then an honorary curate of St Peter's, London Docks from 2015 to 2021.[3]
He has been the current Superior-General of the Society of Mary since 2000.[3][9]
Ladds rejects the ordination of women as priests and bishops.[8] He is a retired bishop of The Society, a traditional Anglo-Catholic association of Church of England.[10]