David Thomas (bishop)

David Thomas (22 July 1942 – 11 May 2017) was a Welsh Anglican bishop. From 1996 to 2008, he served as the Provincial Assistant Bishop of the Church in Wales.[1] In this role, he ministered to those who could not accept the ordination of women as priests.[2]

The Right Reverend

David Thomas
Provincial Assistant Bishop
ChurchChurch in Wales
ProvinceWales
In office1996 to 2008
SuccessorNo successor appointed
Other postsPrincipal of St Stephen's House, Oxford (1982–1987)
Orders
Ordination1967 (deacon)
1968 (priest)
Consecration21 December 1996
Personal details
Born(1942-07-22)22 July 1942
Bangor, Wales
Died11 May 2017 (aged 74)
West Cross, Swansea, Wales
NationalityWelsh
DenominationAnglicanism

Early life and education

Thomas was born on 22 July 1942 in Bangor, Wales.[3][4] He was educated at Christ College, Brecon, an independent school in Brecon.[4] He studied classics at Keble College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1964: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1967.[1][3] In 1964, he entered St Stephen's House, Oxford, an Anglo-Catholic theological college to train for Holy Orders.[1] During this time he also studied theology at Keble College, graduating with a further BA degree in 1966.[1] After further training, he left theological college in 1967 to be ordained.[1]

Ordained ministry

In May 1967, Thomas was ordained in the Church in Wales as a deacon by his father Jack Thomas, the then Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.[3] In 1968, he was ordained as a priest by David Bartlett, the then Bishop of St Asaph.[1][3]

In the 1970s and 1980s, Thomas worked at St Stephen's House, Oxford, a Church of England theological college. He was Vice-Principal from 1975 to 1979, and Principal from 1982 to 1987.[1]

In November 1996, Thomas receives a letter asking him to become the first Provincial Assistant Bishop (PAB) of the Church in Wales; in that role he would provide episcopal oversight to those priests and parishes that could not accept the ordination of women. Having accepted, he was consecrated a bishop on 21 December 1996 during a service at St Asaph Cathedral.[5] He stepped down as PAB and retired from full-time ministry in 2008.[6]

Personal life

On 1 April 1967, Thomas married Rosemary Christine Calton.[4][3] Together they had two children: one son and one daughter.[4]

On 11 May 2017, Thomas died suddenly, having just returned from a holiday; he was aged 74.[6] A Requiem Mass was held for him on 5 June 2017 at St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny.[6]

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References
  1. "David Thomas". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  2. Thomas, David. "A Noble Task". Theology Wales: the Ordination of Women to the Episcopate. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  3. "ROBBIE LOW INTERVIEWS BISHOP DAVID THOMAS". New Directions (23). Forward in Faith. 23 April 1997. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  4. Thomas, Rt Rev. David. Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.37358.
  5. Rabjohns, Alan (June 2017). "Bishop David Thomas, 1942–2017" (pdf). New Directions. Forward in Faith. p. 12-13. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  6. "Tributes are paid to Bishop David Thomas". Church in Wales. The Representative Body of the Church in Wales. May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
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