Robert Springett

Robert Wilfrid Springett (born 15 September 1962) is a British Anglican bishop. He has served as the Bishop of Tewkesbury (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester) since his consecration as a bishop on 30 November 2016.[1] He previously served as the Archdeacon of Cheltenham in the same diocese from 2010.

The Right Reverend Robert Springett
Bishop of Tewkesbury
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Gloucester
In office	30 November 2016–present
Predecessor	Martyn Snow
Other posts	Archdeacon of Cheltenham (April 2010 – 2016)
Orders
Ordination	1989 (deacon) 1990 (priest)
Consecration	30 November 2016 by Justin Welby
Personal details
Birth name	Robert Wilfrid Springett
Born	(1962-09-15) 15 September 1962
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglicanism
Spouse	Helen
Children	Two
Alma mater	Lincoln Theological College University of Nottingham King's College London

Early life and education

Springett was born on 15 September 1962.[2] He was educated at Brentwood School, an independent school in Brentwood, Essex, and at Chelmsford College, a further education college in Chelmsford, Essex.[3] In 1986, he entered Lincoln Theological College, an Anglican theological college, to train for ordination.[4] During this time, he also studied theology at the University of Nottingham and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in 1989.[4][5][6] Following ordination, he undertook postgraduate studies at King's College London,[6] and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree from the University of London in 1992.[4]

Ordained ministry

Springett was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1989 and as a priest in 1990.[4] From 1989 to 1992, he served his curacy at St James the Great, Colchester, an Anglo-Catholic parish in the Diocese of Chelmsford.[4][7] He was then a curate at St Martin of Tours, Basildon, between 1992 and 1994.[4] In 1994, he became priest-in-charge of All Saints, Belhus Park and St Nicholas, South Ockendon.[4] From 1998 to 2001, he was also Rural Dean of Thurrock.[5] In 2001, he was appointed Rector of the Parish of Wanstead.[4][5] During his time as incumbent of the parish, he "led the church into significant growth".[6] From 2008 to 2010, he was also Area Dean of Redbridge.[5][6] In 2008, he was made an Honorary Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral.[4]

In April 2010, Springett moved to the Diocese of Gloucester where he had been appointed the Archdeacon of Cheltenham.[6] As an archdeacon, he was one of the most senior priests in the diocese and was responsible for four deaneries (Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Winchcombe, Cirencester, and the Cotswolds).[1] He is chair of the Diocesan Board of Education, and therefore leads the oversight of the diocese's 116 church schools.[5][6] He was a member of the Crown Nominations Commission that chose Rachel Treweek as Bishop of Gloucester in 2015 (she became the first woman diocesan bishop in the Church of England).[6]

Episcopal ministry

On 25 July 2016, it was announced Springett was to become the next Bishop of Tewkesbury, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester.[5] He was consecrated a bishop on 30 November 2016 during a service at Canterbury Cathedral,[1] and was welcomed as the Bishop of Tewkesbury during a service at Gloucester Cathedral on 11 December 2016.[1]

Personal life

In 1991, Springett married Helen Bates.[3] Together, they have two daughters; Charlotte and Alice.[5]

References

1. "New Bishop of Tewkesbury". Diocese of Gloucester. Church of England. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
2. "Springett, Robert Wilfred". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 29 December 2012. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
3. "TEWKESBURY, Bishop Suffragan of". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
4. "Robert Wilfred Springett". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
5. "Suffragan Bishop of Tewkesbury: Robert Wilfrid Springett". Government of the United Kingdom. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
6. "The Archdeacons". Diocese of Gloucester. Church of England. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
7. "Colchester: St James the Great, Colchester". Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 25 July 2016.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Hedley Ringrose	Archdeacon of Cheltenham 2010–2016	Phil Andrew
Preceded by Martyn Snow	Bishop of Tewkesbury 2016–present	Incumbent