Andrew Burnham (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Burnham is an English priest of the Roman Catholic Church
. Burnham was formerly a bishop
of the Church of England
and served as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet
in the Province of Canterbury
from 2000-2010. He resigned in order to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest for the ordinariate
on 15 January 2011.
, Nottinghamshire
and studied music at New College, Oxford
. He later studied theology at New College before going on to do a Certificate of Education at Westminster College, Oxford
. Following this he became Head of Music at Bilborough Grammar School
in Nottingham.
, although following ordination he had issues with committing to the priesthood and leaving music, a great passion of his which formed a major part of his life. He was chorus master of Nottingham Harmonic Society
from 1973-85. The Bishop of Southwell therefore suggested that he became a non-stipendiary priest
. However, his wife Cathy eventually persuaded him to devote himself to full-time ministry.
From 1983 to 1985, Burnham was honorary curate at Clifton in the Diocese of Southwell as a non-stipendiary priest. In 1985 he became curate at St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston
in the same diocese from 1985 until 1987. He then became vicar of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Carrington
, leaving in 1994 following his appointment as Vice-Principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford
—a role he took up in 1995.
Burnham was announced as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet
(a so-called "flying bishop") on 12 September 2000 and the appointment was confirmed by Letters Patent
issued by Queen Elizabeth II
on 22 November 2000.
because of disagreement about provision for those opposed to the proposed ordination of women as bishops in the Church of England
. In a column in the Catholic Herald, Burnham asked Pope Benedict XVI
to provide a way for his parishioners to join him in the move.
On 8 November 2010, Burnham was one of five Anglican bishops who announced their resignations and their intention to join the proposed personal ordinariate
in England and Wales. His resignation took effect on 31 December 2010.
Burnham was received into the Roman Catholic Church at a mass at Westminster Cathedral
on 1 January 2011. Also received at the same ceremony were Keith Newton (former Bishop of Richborough) and his wife, John Broadhurst
(former Bishop of Fulham) and his wife, Judith, and three former sisters of the Society of St Margaret (Walsingham)- Sister Carolyne Joseph, Sister Jane Louise and Sister Wendy Renate. On 13 January 2011 he was ordained to the diaconate with two other former Church of England bishops, John Broadhurst
and Keith Newton. Two days later, on 15 January 2011, they were also ordained to the priesthood together. On this date the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
in England and Wales was also officially established. On 17 March it was announced that Burnham had been appointed a Prelate of Honour by the Pope.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Burnham was formerly a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and served as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet
Bishop of Ebbsfleet
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet is a suffragan bishop who fulfils the role of a provincial episcopal visitor for the whole of the Province of Canterbury in the Church of England....
in the Province of Canterbury
Province of Canterbury
The Province of Canterbury, also called the Southern Province, is one of two ecclesiastical provinces making up the Church of England...
from 2000-2010. He resigned in order to be received into the Roman Catholic Church. He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest for the ordinariate
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is a personal ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church within the territory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, but immediately subject to the Holy See in Rome and encompassing Scotland...
on 15 January 2011.
Early life
Burnham was born in WorksopWorksop
Worksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
and studied music at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He later studied theology at New College before going on to do a Certificate of Education at Westminster College, Oxford
Westminster College, Oxford
Westminster College was a college of higher education in England. The college was founded in London in 1851 as a training institute for teachers for Methodist schools, and moved to Oxford in 1959. Following the move, the college also began to offer degree courses in Theology and Education. In 2000,...
. Following this he became Head of Music at Bilborough Grammar School
Bilborough College
Bilborough College is a sixth form college in College Way, Bilborough, Nottingham, United Kingdom.The college has students from across the conurbation...
in Nottingham.
Anglican ministry
Burnham trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, OxfordSt Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
, although following ordination he had issues with committing to the priesthood and leaving music, a great passion of his which formed a major part of his life. He was chorus master of Nottingham Harmonic Society
Nottingham Harmonic Society
Nottingham Harmonic Society is Nottingham's civic choir, and has established itself as one of the leading provincial choruses in Britain.It started life as the Vocal Music Club of the Nottingham Mechanics' Institution formed in 1846, but soon became independent of the Institute under the name...
from 1973-85. The Bishop of Southwell therefore suggested that he became a non-stipendiary priest
Non-stipendiary priest
Non-stipendiary priests or non-stipendiary ministers are religious ministers who do not receive payment for their services, and who usually have alternative employment which provides monetary income with which they can support themselves....
. However, his wife Cathy eventually persuaded him to devote himself to full-time ministry.
From 1983 to 1985, Burnham was honorary curate at Clifton in the Diocese of Southwell as a non-stipendiary priest. In 1985 he became curate at St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston
St. John the Baptist Church, Beeston
St. John the Baptist Church is an Anglican church in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England.The church is Grade II listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.-History:...
in the same diocese from 1985 until 1987. He then became vicar of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Carrington
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Carrington
St. John the Evanglist, Carrington is a parish church in the Church of England in Carrington, Nottingham.The church is Grade II listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.-History:...
, leaving in 1994 following his appointment as Vice-Principal of St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
—a role he took up in 1995.
Burnham was announced as the third Bishop of Ebbsfleet
Bishop of Ebbsfleet
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet is a suffragan bishop who fulfils the role of a provincial episcopal visitor for the whole of the Province of Canterbury in the Church of England....
(a so-called "flying bishop") on 12 September 2000 and the appointment was confirmed by Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
issued by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 22 November 2000.
Ordination in the Roman Catholic Church
On 8 July 2008, Burnham announced his intention to lead his Anglo-Catholic parishioners into unity with the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
because of disagreement about provision for those opposed to the proposed ordination of women as bishops in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. In a column in the Catholic Herald, Burnham asked Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
to provide a way for his parishioners to join him in the move.
On 8 November 2010, Burnham was one of five Anglican bishops who announced their resignations and their intention to join the proposed personal ordinariate
Personal Ordinariate
A personal ordinariate is a canonical structure within the Catholic Church enabling former Anglicans to maintain some degree of corporate identity and autonomy with regard to the bishops of the geographical dioceses of the Catholic Church and to preserve elements of their distinctive Anglican...
in England and Wales. His resignation took effect on 31 December 2010.
Burnham was received into the Roman Catholic Church at a mass at Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
on 1 January 2011. Also received at the same ceremony were Keith Newton (former Bishop of Richborough) and his wife, John Broadhurst
John Broadhurst
John Charles Broadhurst is an English priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Broadhurst was formerly a bishop of the Church of England and served as the Bishop of Fulham in the Diocese of London from 1996 to 2010...
(former Bishop of Fulham) and his wife, Judith, and three former sisters of the Society of St Margaret (Walsingham)- Sister Carolyne Joseph, Sister Jane Louise and Sister Wendy Renate. On 13 January 2011 he was ordained to the diaconate with two other former Church of England bishops, John Broadhurst
John Broadhurst
John Charles Broadhurst is an English priest of the Roman Catholic Church. Broadhurst was formerly a bishop of the Church of England and served as the Bishop of Fulham in the Diocese of London from 1996 to 2010...
and Keith Newton. Two days later, on 15 January 2011, they were also ordained to the priesthood together. On this date the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham is a personal ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church within the territory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, but immediately subject to the Holy See in Rome and encompassing Scotland...
in England and Wales was also officially established. On 17 March it was announced that Burnham had been appointed a Prelate of Honour by the Pope.
Styles
- Andrew Burnham Esq (1948–1982)
- The Revd Andrew Burnham (1982–2000)
- The Rt Revd Andrew Burnham (2000–2010)
- Andrew Burnham Esq. (1–13 January 2011)
- The Revd Andrew Burnham (13 January 2011 – 17 March 2011)
- The Revd Monsignor Andrew Burnham (17 March 2011 - present)