Kenneth Stevenson

Kenneth William Stevenson (9 November 1949 – 12 January 2011[1]) was the eighth Bishop of Portsmouth in the Church of England.[2]

The Right Reverend Kenneth Stevenson
Bishop of Portsmouth
Kenneth Stevenson by Celia Glover
Diocese	Portsmouth
In office	1995–September 2009
Predecessor	Timothy Bavin
Successor	Christopher Foster
Other posts	Chaplain, lecturer, University of Manchester (until 1995)
Orders
Consecration	1995
Personal details
Born	(1949-11-09)9 November 1949 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Died	12 January 2011(2011-01-12) (aged 61)[1]
Nationality	British (Scottish)
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Sarah Julia Mary Glover
Children	Elisabeth, Katharine (Kitty), James, Alexandra
Profession	Academic (liturgy)
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh

Life

Stevenson was born in Edinburgh on 19 November 1949.[3] He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and the University of Edinburgh, taking his MA in 1970.[3]

Stevenson was consecrated as Bishop of Portsmouth in 1995, following parish work in Lincoln,[4] Guildford,[5] and in the university chaplaincy at the University of Manchester.[6] He was married, with four children.[7]

Stevenson held a PhD from the University of Southampton and a DD from the University of Manchester where he lectured in liturgy alongside his work as a chaplain. He was involved in the Church of England's participation in the Porvoo Communion, not least because he was part-Danish. He was a Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Denmark's Order of the Dannebrog. In 2006, having been diagnosed with leukemia, he began a course of treatment. On 22 February 2009 he announced at a service at Portsmouth Cathedral that he would retire in September 2009 due to continuing ill-health. He presided at his last confirmation service on 19 July 2009 at St Peter's Church Seaview, Isle of Wight.

"There is a sadness in the decision but I know that it is the right one. I did wrestle with it and it has proved to be the most difficult decision of my life. I have loved being your Bishop and have never wanted to be Bishop of anywhere else"[8]

In retirement, Stevenson continued to write[9] and give his support to fund-raising activities for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, e.g. through musical events[10] and the artistic work of his daughter Alexandra.[11]

He had two brothers-in-law who were also bishops: David Tustin and Peter Forster.[12] Both assisted at his funeral at Portsmouth Cathedral on 26 January 2011,[13] along with his great friend Patricia Routledge.[14]

Works

The Lord's Prayer; A Text in Tradition, 2004.[15]

References

1. "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - Bishop Kenneth Stevenson RIP". www.portsmouth.anglican.org.
2. Office, Anglican Communion. "Page not found | Anglican Communion". Anglican Communion Website.
3. "The Right Reverend Kenneth Stevenson". 1 February 2011 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
4. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
5. "Brief biography". Archived from the original on 31 March 2009.
6. Crockford's Clerical Directory2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
7. Debrett's People of Today London,2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
8. "Anglican Bishop retiring early as he fights illness"- article by David Hurley in The News dated February 23, 2009.
9. Times Online, Birthdays: Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Times Online, November 2009
10. A Michaelmas Medley Archived 17 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Music for Leukaemia Research, Holy Trinity Sloane Square, 25 September 2009.
11. British Antiques Dealers Association Charity Gala Evening , 18 March 2010
12. Who's Who (ibid): Stevenson and Tustin married two sisters; while Forster married Stevenson's sister
13. "Bishop's funeral details". www.portsmouth.co.uk.
14. "Portsmouth Today 26-1-11".
15. VanderKam, James C.; Adler, William (7 December 1996). "The Jewish Apocalyptic Heritage in Early Christianity, Volume 4". Fortress Press – via Google Books.

External links

• Stevenson's personal site Archived 26 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine