| The Rt Revd David Urquhart BAHons[1] |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Birmingham | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Birmingham |
| Enthroned | 17 November 2006[2] |
| Predecessor | John Sentamu |
| Other posts | Bishop of Birkenhead (2000–2006) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1984 |
| Consecration | 2000 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 April 1952 Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Bishop's Croft, Harborne |
| Profession | formerly commercial management |
| Alma mater | Ealing College Business School |
David Andrew Urquhart (born 14 April 1952[3]) is the ninth Bishop of Birmingham.
Urquhart was educated at Rugby School and Ealing College Business School (BA 1970). After a career in commercial management with British Petroleum, he studied for the ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He was ordained in 1984 and served in Hull before becoming the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Coventry in 1992. He was appointed suffragan Bishop of Birkenhead in the Diocese of Chester in 2000. His appointment as Bishop of Birmingham was announced in 2006[4] and he was enthroned on 11 November 2006, succeeding John Sentamu after Sentamu's appointment as Archbishop of York. Around 800 people attended his enthronement in Birmingham Cathedral.[5]
At his enthronement Urquhart was presented with a cope which incorporated various images related to his life and the city of Birmingham. These included a bagpiper, signifying his birth and upbringing in Scotland, a motorcycle which represents one of his hobbies and the emblems of Aston Villa and Birmingham City FC, the two most prominent football teams from the city. The cope also features a passage from the Bible, which reads "You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets to dwell in." (Isaiah 58:12). The passage was written in English, Mandarin, Hebrew and Gandan. During the ceremony in Birmingham Cathedral, Urquhart smashed a large clay pot with a mallet to signify the fragility of human life and our world.[6]
In a message to his new diocese shortly after his enthronement, Urquhart thanked the people of Birmingham for the warm welcome he had received. He cited his desire for the diocese to engage in "worship, making disciples and prophetic witness".[7]
Urquhart acts as the Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy to China and accompanied him on a visit to China in October 2006.[8] Urquhart was appointed Prelate of The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in 2005[9][10] and holds the Freedom of the Borough of Wirral.[11] He is unmarried.
Urquhart was introduced as a Lord Spiritual to the House of Lords on 26 October 2010.[12]
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Langrish |
Bishop of Birkenhead 2000–2006 |
Succeeded by Keith Sinclair |
| Preceded by John Sentamu |
Bishop of Birmingham 2006— |
Incumbent |
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