Nicholas Alan "Nick" Chamberlain (born 25 November 1963) is a British Anglican bishop. On 19 November 2015, he became the suffragan Bishop of Grantham in the Diocese of Lincoln.[1] He had previously been vicar of the parish of St George and St Hilda, Jesmond, in the Diocese of Newcastle since 2006. Chamberlain was the first bishop in the Church of England to come out as gay on 2 September 2016.
Nicholas Chamberlain | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Grantham | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Lincoln |
| In office | 2015–present |
| Predecessor | Tim Ellis |
| Other post(s) | Vicar of St George and St Hilda, Jesmond (2006–2015) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1991 (deacon) 1992 (priest) |
| Consecration | 19 November 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1963 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Education | Christleton High School |
| Alma mater | St Chad's College, Durham Edinburgh Theological College New College, Edinburgh |
Early life and education
editChamberlain was born in Staines and educated at Christleton High School.[2] He then studied English and American Literature at St Chad's College, Durham,[3] and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1985.[4]
In 1988, Chamberlain entered Edinburgh Theological College, an Anglican theological college, to train for ordination.[4] During this time he also studied theology at New College, Edinburgh (graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1991) and undertook postgraduate research in American Literature at St Chad's College (completing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1991).[4]
Ordained ministry
editHe was ordained deacon at Durham Cathedral in 1991. He then served in the parish of St Mary, Cockerton, in the Diocese of Durham, where he was ordained priest in 1992. He served as curate of St Francis' Church, Newton Aycliffe, in 1994 before becoming team vicar there in 1995. The team became the Great Aycliffe Team Ministry when the parish of St Andrew, Great Aycliffe was added the following year.
In 1998, he became priest in charge of St Barnabas' Burnmoor, also taking up the post of officer for Continuing Ministerial Education and Post Ordination Training in the Diocese of Durham.
On 19 November 2015, Chamberlain was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.[5]
In April 2019, he wrote an Easter devotional expressing thanks "that the silence over LGBT people has been broken."[6]
Views
editIn November 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".[7]
Personal life
editChamberlain was the first bishop in the Church of England to come out as gay on 2 September 2016, following threats of an outing from an unnamed Sunday newspaper. He said he was in a celibate same-sex relationship,[N 1] as required by the bishops' guidelines, under which gay clergy must assure bishops that they are celibate and may not marry.[8][9][10][11] Gay bishops are, however, permitted to enter into civil partnerships.[12] Chamberlain also described his relationship with his partner and their commitment. "Chamberlain said he had been with his partner for many years. 'It is faithful, loving, we are like-minded, we enjoy each other’s company and we share each other’s life,' he said."[13] Church of England Newspaper reported that he and his partner have been together for over 30 years.[14] An overwhelming proportion of approximately 500 letters and emails prompted by his coming out were supportive.[15]
His interests include music, reading, cycling and running; he runs in half-marathons to raise money for Christian Aid and other charities. As aforementioned, he has a partner with whom he shares his life.[6][16]
Styles
edit- The Reverend Doctor Nick Chamberlain (1991–2015)[17][18]
- The Right Reverend Doctor Nicholas Chamberlain (2015–present)[19]
Notes
edit- ^ The term "celibate relationship" is currently used in the Church of England to mean sexual abstinence; this usage is disputed. See celibacy and sexual abstinence.
References
edit- ^ Thinking Anglicans blog. Next Bishop of Grantham announced (Accessed 6 October 2015)
- ^ New Bishop of Grantham Announced, Diocese of Lincoln. 8 September 2015
- ^ Governors – Newcastle High School for Girls. Newcastlehigh.gdst.net. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "Nicholas Alan Chamberlain". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Diocese of Lincoln — New Bishop of Grantham announced Archived 5 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 8 September 2015)
- ^ a b "Bishop grateful for end to silence on LGBT ". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops". Church Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ Sherwood, Harriet (2 September 2016). "Bishop of Grantham first C of E bishop to declare he is in gay relationship". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ The Telegraph — Bishop of Grantham becomes first Church of England bishop to come out publicly as gay (Accessed 3 September 2016)
- ^ Press release — Changing Attitude England welcomes Bishop Nick Chamberlain’s openness Archived 3 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 3 September 2016)
- ^ Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement — The Bishop of Grantham Archived 11 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 3 September 2016)
- ^ Walker, Peter (4 January 2013). "Church of England rules gay men in civil partnerships can become bishops". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ Sherwood, Harriet (2 September 2016). "Bishop of Grantham first C of E bishop to declare he is in gay relationship". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ "Gafcon says appointment of Bishop was a 'major error'". Church of England Newspaper. 8 September 2016.
- ^ Davie, Grace; Starkey, Caroline (2019). "The Lincoln letters: a study in institutional change". Ecclesial Practices. 6: 44–64. doi:10.1163/22144471-00601001. ISSN 2214-4463. S2CID 190165311. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Alt URL
- ^ "Bishop of Grantham: I am gay and in a relationship - AOL". www.aol.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ Contact | St Georges Church Jesmond. Stgeorgesjesmond.org. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
- ^ The Mystery Worshipper Archived 29 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Ship of Fools (6 January 2008). Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
- ^ Diocese of Lincoln — Service of welcome for the new Bishop of Grantham Archived 10 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 7 December 2015)
