John Dennis (bishop)

John Dennis (19 June 1931 – 13 April 2020)[1] was an Anglican bishop, who served as Bishop of Knaresborough, and then for ten years as Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. In retirement he was an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Winchester.[2]

The Right Reverend John Dennis
Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
In office	1986–1996
Predecessor	John Waine
Successor	Richard Lewis
Other posts	Honorary assistant bishop in Winchester (1996–2020) Bishop of Knaresborough 1979–1986
Orders
Ordination	1956 (deacon) 1957 (priest)
Consecration	1979
Personal details
Born	(1931-06-19)19 June 1931
Died	13 April 2020(2020-04-13) (aged 88)
Denomination	Anglican
Children	John Dennis Hugh Dennis
Alma mater	St Catharine's College, Cambridge

Education

Dennis was born to (Hubert) Ronald Dennis (1899–1990) and Evelyn, daughter of Leonard Joseph Neville-Polley, a science tutor and author who wrote a biography of the chemist and physicist John Dalton. Ronald Dennis, the son of a South Yorkshire coal hewer, served as a platoon commander on the Western Front in World War I.[3][4]

John Dennis was educated at Rutlish School, Merton (a state grammar school, where his father taught biology and physics), and St Catharine's College, Cambridge (BA 1954, MA 1959),[5] before studying for ordination at Cuddesdon College, Oxford.[6]

Ministry

After serving in the RAF in 1950, followed by curacies in Armley and Kettering[7] he was appointed vicar of the Isle of Dogs in 1962, transferring to John Keble Church, Mill Hill, in 1971. He was appointed as a prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral, London, in 1977.

He became the Bishop of Knaresborough in 1979,[8] which was a suffragan see to the diocesan Bishop of Ripon; and for most of his time in that office he also served as Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO) for the Diocese of Ripon. In 1986 he was translated to become diocesan Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in Suffolk. He retired in 1996 and lived in Winchester from 1999.[9]

Knaresborough report

In 1969 the Ely Commission of the Church of England considered the initiation of children within the Church, and in 1971 published its report "Christian Initiation: Birth and Growth in the Christian Society" (Church Information Office, 1971).[10] This led to widespread debate about whether children should start receiving Holy Communion after their Confirmation, as had always been traditional for Anglicans, or whether they should be admitted to Holy Communion at a much younger age. In 1976 the General Synod voted to retain the status quo, but debate continued in the dioceses. A working party was established to look at the question in greater depth, and John Dennis was selected as the Chairman of the working party. This resulted in the publication of "Children and Communion" (CIO 1983)[10] and "Communion before Confirmation?" (Ed. D Isaac) (CIO 1985),[11] both commonly referenced as "The Knaresborough Report", after John Dennis's episcopal see.[10][11]

Personal life

In 1956, Dennis married Dorothy Mary,[12] daughter of Godfrey Parker Hinnels (who fought at the first Battle of Arras in World War I);[13][14][15]they had two sons. The elder son John Dennis works in the diplomatic service and was the British Ambassador to Angola from 2014 to 2018.[16] The younger son is the actor and comedian Hugh Dennis.[17]

John Dennis was a Freemason, and a member of Rutlish Lodge No 4416 (the Masonic Lodge associated with his school) under the United Grand Lodge of England.[18] He was initiated on 18 April 1975 at the Lodge's regular meeting place in the Tower Room at Great Tower Street, beside the Tower of London.[19] He was initiated by his father, who was a Past Master of the Lodge. He was raised to the third degree in Sutton, Surrey, two years later, as the lodge had by then permanently relocated.[20]

Dennis died on 13 April 2020, six weeks after his wife.[21]

References

1. Daily Telegraph p29 Obituaries Issue no. 51,335 dated Thursday 4 June 2020 'popular bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich known for his humour and unscripted sermons'
2. "The Parish of St. Matthew with St. Paul: Staff". Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
3. http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/hugh-dennis
4. https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2012/who-do-you-think-you-are/hugh-dennis-34
5. Who's Who 1992 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3514-2
6. Dod's Parliamentary Companion 1995, Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd, p. 297
7. "Debrett's People of Today": ed. Ellis, P. (1992, London, Debtrett's), ISBN 1-870520-09-2
8. The Times, 11 November 1983; p. 3; Issue 61687; col A, "Synod hears amendment from Bishop of Knaresborough"
9. Entry at Crockford Clerical Directory.
10. "Historical development in the Church of England" (PDF). Diocese of Portsmouth. 2014. p. 3. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
11. "Children and Holy Communion – Guides and resources for Parishes" (PDF). Church in Wales. 2002. p. 9. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
12. Dod's Parliamentary Companion 1995, Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd, p. 297
13. https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2012/who-do-you-think-you-are/hugh-dennis-34/
14. http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/episode/hugh-dennis
15. "Hugh Dennis – Who Do You Think You Are?". The Genealogist. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
16. "British Ambassador to Angola – John Dennis". Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
17. McGrath, Nick (16 January 2015). "Hugh Dennis: My family values". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
18. "Past Masters of the Lodge". London: Lodge of Assistance. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
19. Written at Library of Freemasonry (Archive), Great Queen Street, London. "The Rutlish Lodge". Rutlish Lodge Summons & Agenda. London: Rutlish Lodge (published 1975): 2. 18 April 1975.
20. Fisher, Cliff (2020). The Rutlish Lodge Centenary History (First ed.). Rutlish Lodge.
21. "Death Notices & Obituaries - Dorothy Mary Dennis". Newsquest (Hampshire Chronicle). 12 March 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.