Christopher Foster (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Richard James Foster (born 7 November 1953) is an Anglican bishop
. He is the current Bishop of Portsmouth in the Church of England
.
Foster was educated at Durham University
where he held the position of Chapel Clerk at University College
.
After studying at Westcott House, Cambridge
, Foster was ordained in 1981 and began his ordained ministry with a curacy
in Tettenhall Regis
in Wolverhampton
, after which he became chaplain
of Wadham College, Oxford
. Following this he was vicar
of Christ Church Southgate
and finally (before his ordination to the episcopate in 2001) a canon residentiary
and sub-dean at St Albans Cathedral
. In February 2010 it was announced that Foster would be the new Bishop of Portsmouth. He was enthroned
on 18 September 2010.
Foster's first wife died in 2001. He married his second wife, Sally, in 2006. He has one adult son and one adult daughter.
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...
. He is the current Bishop of Portsmouth 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...
.
Foster was educated at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
where he held the position of Chapel Clerk at University College
University College, Durham
University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body...
.
After studying at Westcott House, Cambridge
Westcott House, Cambridge
Westcott House is a Church of England theological college based in Jesus Lane located in the centre of the university city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.Its main activity is training people for ordained ministry in Anglican churches...
, Foster was ordained in 1981 and began his ordained ministry with a curacy
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Tettenhall Regis
Tettenhall Regis
Tettenhall Regis is a ward of Wolverhampton City Council, West Midlands.-Geography:It is one of two wards covering the Tettenhall area, the other being Tettenhall Wightwick. It is situated on the western edge of the city, bordering South Staffordshire and the Oxley, St Peter's, Park and Tettenhall...
in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, after which he became chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
. Following this he was vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Christ Church Southgate
Southgate, London
Southgate is an area of north London, England, primarily within the London Borough of Enfield, although parts of its western fringes lie within the London Borough of Barnet. It is located around north of Charing Cross. The name is derived from being the south gate to Enfield Chase...
and finally (before his ordination to the episcopate in 2001) a canon residentiary
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and sub-dean at St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
. In February 2010 it was announced that Foster would be the new Bishop of Portsmouth. He was enthroned
Enthroned
Enthroned is a black metal band formed in Charleroi in 1993 by Cernunnos. He soon recruited guitarist Tsebaoth and a vocalist from grindcore/black metal band Hecate who stayed until the end of December 1993. Then bassist/vocalist Sabathan joined. The band released a 5-track demo tape in mid-1994...
on 18 September 2010.
Foster's first wife died in 2001. He married his second wife, Sally, in 2006. He has one adult son and one adult daughter.
Styles
- Christopher Foster Esq (1953–1981)
- The Revd Christopher Foster (1981–1994)
- The Revd Canon Christopher Foster (1994–2001)
- The Rt Revd Christopher Foster (2001—present)