Charles John Klyberg (29 July 1931 – 16 January 2020) was a British Roman Catholic priest and former Anglican bishop. From 1985 to 1996, he was the Bishop of Fulham in the Church of England.[1]


John Klyberg
Other post(s)C of E Bishop of Fulham (1985–1996)
Orders
Ordination1996 (Catholic priest)
Consecration1985 (C of E)
RankPrelate of Honour
Personal details
Born
Charles John Klyberg

(1931-07-29)29 July 1931
Died16 January 2020(2020-01-16) (aged 88)
Hythe, Kent, England
NationalityBritish
DenominationRoman Catholicism
formerly Anglicanism
EducationEastbourne College
Alma materLincoln Theological College
Military career
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1953–1955
1955–1958 (reserves)
RankLieutenant
UnitBuffs
Battles/warsCold War

Early life and education edit

Klyberg was born on 29 July 1931.[2] He was educated at Eastbourne College, a private school in Eastbourne, Sussex.[3] He trained for ordination at Lincoln Theological College, a Church of England theological college.

Klyberg served in the British Army to satisfy the required National Service. On 19 December 1953, he was commissioned into the Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) as a second lieutenant.[4] On 16 May 1955, he transferred to the Territorial Army as a second lieutenant with seniority in that rank from 19 December 1953; this ended his full-time military service and began the required part-time period of service.[5] On 21 August 1955, he was promoted to lieutenant.[6] On 23 October 1958, he transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers; this ended his military service and began his call up liability.[7] He resigned his commission on 9 July 1960, and this ended his call up liability.[8]

Ordained ministry edit

Church of England edit

He began his ordained ministry with a curacy at St John's, East Dulwich – after which he was the rector of Fort Jameson in Zambia.[9] Following this he was the vicar of Christ Church and St Stephen, Battersea. Later he became the Dean of Lusaka before ordination to the episcopate. He was also the Archdeacon of Charing Cross. An opponent of women priests, he was a Guardian of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham from 1991 to 1997.[10]

Roman Catholic Church edit

In 1996, after retiring from Anglican ministry, Klyberg was received into the Roman Catholic Church.[11] He was ordained a Catholic priest in December 1996.[12] He was later made a Prelate of Honour by Pope John Paul II.[13]

Personal life edit

In 1994, the gay rights campaign group OutRage! named Klyberg as one of ten closeted homosexual bishops in the Church of England.[14]

Klyberg died on 16 January 2020, aged 88. His Funeral Mass was held on 29 January with Bishop Nicholas Hudson presiding. He was cremated.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "Bishops appointed". The Times. No. 62049. 30 January 1985. p. 14 col B.
  2. ^ Who's Who 1992 "(London, A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-3514-2)
  3. ^ "Debrett's People of Today 1992" (London, Debrett's) ISBN 1-870520-09-2)
  4. ^ "No. 40100". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 February 1954. p. 993.
  5. ^ "No. 40530". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1955. p. 3931.
  6. ^ "No. 40565". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 August 1955. p. 4799.
  7. ^ "No. 41530". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 October 1958. p. 6481.
  8. ^ "No. 42106". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1960. p. 5309.
  9. ^ Crockford's clerical directory, 1995 (Lambeth, Church House ISBN 0-7151-8088-6)
  10. ^ "Guardians' South Side Stalls". The Walsingham Archives. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Cardinal ordains four married priests". The Tablet. 9 November 1996. p. 33. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Mgr Charles John Klyberg RIP". rcdow.org.uk. Diocese of Westminster. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Women priests: where has it led?". Archived from the original on 16 November 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ "Archbishop Of York Urged To 'Come Out'". petertatchell.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Fulham
1985–1996
Succeeded by