David Chillingworth
Encyclopedia
David Chillingworth is one of the seven diocesan bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church
, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion
with the Archbishop of Canterbury
as primus inter pares
(first amongst equals). He was ordained as bishop
of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth
on 5 March 2005.
On 13 June 2009, Chillingworth was elected the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
by the bishops of the church
Although it is not uncommon for the Scottish Episcopal Church
to elect bishops from outside the boundaries of Scotland
, the choice of Chillingworth was unusual in that he was elected from the Church of Ireland
. Chillingworth had never previously worked in Scotland but had lived most of his life in Northern Ireland
. He was born in Dublin and studied classics
at Trinity College, Dublin
, theology
at Oriel College, Oxford
, and trained for the ordained ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon
which is close to Oxford
.
Chillingworth was ordained in Belfast
in 1976. His parish ministry was consistently focussed on issues of conflict and reconciliation, particularly in relation to sectarianism
. He also served as the Church of Ireland
Youth Officer from 1979 to 1983. Before moving to Scotland in 2005 he was for 19 years rector of Seagoe Parish Church in Portadown
and Archdeacon of Dromore
.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
with the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
as primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
(first amongst equals). He was ordained as 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 Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth
St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth
St Ninian's Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of St Ninian is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the Royal burgh of Perth. It is the see of the Anglican Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, who is the ordinary of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.-History:The...
on 5 March 2005.
On 13 June 2009, Chillingworth was elected the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus, styled The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd David Chillingworth who became Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 13 June 2009...
by the bishops of the church
Although it is not uncommon for the Scottish Episcopal Church
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
to elect bishops from outside the boundaries of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the choice of Chillingworth was unusual in that he was elected from the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. Chillingworth had never previously worked in Scotland but had lived most of his life in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He was born in Dublin and studied classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Oriel College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and trained for the ordained ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
which is close to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Chillingworth was ordained in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
in 1976. His parish ministry was consistently focussed on issues of conflict and reconciliation, particularly in relation to sectarianism
Sectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
. He also served as the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Youth Officer from 1979 to 1983. Before moving to Scotland in 2005 he was for 19 years rector of Seagoe Parish Church in Portadown
Portadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
and Archdeacon of Dromore
Dromore
- Places :* Dromore, Ontario, Canada* Dromore , a crater in the Lunae Palus quadrangle of Mars- Other :* Bishop of Dromore, named for the town in County Down; the pre-Reformation antecedent of:** Roman Catholic Diocese of Dromore...
.