Peter Forster
| The Rt Revd Peter Forster PhD MA(Oxon) BD[1] |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Chester | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chester |
| Installed | 11 January 1997 |
| Predecessor | Michael Baughen |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1980 |
| Consecration | 13 November 1996 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 March 1950 Solihull, West Midlands |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Bishop's House, Chester |
| Parents | Thomas Forster and Edna Russell |
| Spouse | Elisabeth Anne Stevenson (m. 1978) |
| Children | Two sons, two daughters |
| Alma mater | Merton College, Oxford |
Peter Robert Forster (born 16 March 1950) is a British Anglican bishop and a Lord of Parliament.[2] He is currently the Bishop of Chester in the Church of England.
Born in Solihull, the son of Thomas and Edna (née Russell), Forster was educated at the town's Tudor Grange Grammar School and Merton College, Oxford, where he received a Master of Arts in chemistry in 1973. At Edinburgh University, he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity in theology in 1977 and became a Doctor of Philosophy in 1985.
From 1980 to 1982, Forster was assistant curate of the Mossley Hill Parish Church in Liverpool. He was senior tutor at St John's College, Durham from 1983 to 1991 and became the vicar of Beverley Minster in 1992. In 1996, he was appointed the 40th Bishop of Chester and became a Lord Spiritual at the House of Lords in 2001.[3]
Forster has been married to Elisabeth Anne Forster (née Stevenson) since 1978; they have two sons and two daughters.
In 2003, Forster raised controversy when he was investigated by police for alleged "hate speech" after suggesting that homosexual people should seek psychiatric treatment.[4] No charges were made and the police were satisfied that no offence had been committed.[5]
He was one nine bishops who signed a letter against Rowan Williams' decision not to block the appointment of Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading in 2013.[6]
In 2009 Forster became a trustee of the newly formed Global Warming Policy Foundation, an organisation based in the United Kingdom which questions policy measures envisaged by governments to mitigate global warming.[7]
In 2012, amid controversy over the amount of expenses claimed by bishops for attending the House of Lords, it was revealed that Forster had claimed more than any other bishop in 2010/11. He had claimed £34,909 and had attended on 97 days.[8]
Forster's brother in law, Kenneth Stevenson, was also a bishop.[9]
Styles
- Peter Forster Esq (1950–1980)
- The Revd Peter Forster (1980–1985)
- The Revd Dr Peter Forster (1985–1996)
- The Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster (1996–present)
References
- ^ Church of England – Bishop of Chester
- ^ http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/peter-forster/26690
- ^ House of Lords (2001-11-14). "Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords". minutes of proceedings. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
- ^ Daley, Janet. The Daily Telegraph (London) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/10/nbish10.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/11/10/ixportal.html
|url=missing title (help). Retrieved 2010-05-22. - ^ "No charges for bishop in gay row". BBC News. 2003-11-09. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
- ^ Frost's Meditations – Nazir-Ali
- ^ "Board of Trustees". www.thegwpf.org. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
- ^ http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/113709/bishop-of-chester-claims-most-expenses.aspx
- ^ .Who's Who (ibid)
- "DodOnline". Retrieved 2006-11-20.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Baughen |
Bishop of Chester 1996–present |
Incumbent |
|
