George Cassidy (bishop)

George Henry Cassidy (born 17 October 1942) is a British Anglican bishop and the most recent Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.^[1]

The son of Joseph Abram Cassidy and Ethel McDonald, Cassidy was educated at Belfast High School and Queen's University, Belfast, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in politics and economics in 1965. He was further educated in University College, London (where he graduated with a Master of Philosophy degree in 1967) and at Oak Hill Theological College, London. He was ordained in 1972.^[2]

Cassidy worked as planning officer in the Ministry of Development of Northern Ireland from 1967 to 1968 and in the Department of Lands and Settlements, Kenya from 1968 to 1970. From 1972 to 1975 he was curate of Christ Church, Clifton, from 1975 to 1982 the vicar of St Edyth's, Sea Mills and of St Paul's, Portman Square, London from 1982 to 1987. From 1987 to 1999, he was an archdeacon and a canon residentiary of St Paul's Cathedral. Having been appointed the 10th Bishop of Southwell in 1999, in 2005 the territorial designation of Nottingham was added to his position. On 9 May 2008, it was announced that Cassidy would retire,^[3] and, in July 2009, he formally retired.

Cassidy spends much of his time in the House of Lords where he voted against the Equality Act in early 2007. He was one of the "rebel" bishops who signed a letter against the appointment of the Reverend Jeffrey John as the Bishop of Reading in 2003. The others were the Bishops of Bradford, Carlisle, Chester, Chichester, Exeter, Liverpool, Rochester and Winchester. They are known to their opponents as the "Nazgûl".

Regarded as a conservative Evangelical, Cassidy is noted for his strong opposition to the ordination of openly gay priests.

Since 1966, Cassidy has been married to Jane Barling Stevens; they have two daughters.^[4]

References

^ DodOnline
^ Crockfords On-line accessed 31 May 2008]
^ Diocese of Southwell — Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham to retire...
^ Who's Who2008 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 9780713672576

Church of England titles
Preceded by Francis William Harvey	Archdeacon of London 1987–1999	Succeeded by Peter Anthony Delaney
Preceded by Patrick Burnet Harris as Bishop of Southwell	Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham 1999–2009	Succeeded by Paul Butler

Archdeacons of London

William de Beaumais • William of Sainte-Mère-Eglise • John Chishull • Richard Swinefield • *Richard Kylmington • Fortanerius Vassalli • Richard Gwent • Edward Moylle • John Wymmesley • John Harpsfield • John Mullins • Theophilus Aylmer • Thomas Paske • John Dolben • Thomas Lamplugh • Edward Stillingfleet • Thomas Tenison • William Stanley • Robert Tyrwhit • Edward Cobden John Jortin • Anthony Hamilton • Richard Beadon • William Bingham • Joseph Holden Pott • William Hale Hale • Piers Calverley Claughton • Edwin Hamilton Gifford • William Macdonald Sinclair • Ernest Edward Holmes • Ernest Newton Sharpe • Oswin Harvard Gibbs-Smith • George Appleton • Martin Gloster Sullivan • Samuel Mostyn Forbes Woodhouse • Francis William Harvey • George Henry Cassidy • Peter Anthony Delaney • David Gwynne Meara

Bishops of Southwell

George Ridding • Sir Edwyn Hoskyns Bt • Bernard Heywood • Henry Mosley • Frank Barry • Gordon Savage • Denis Wakeling • Michael Whinney • Patrick Harris • George Cassidy • Paul Butler

Persondata
Name	Cassidy, George
Alternative names
Short description	Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
Date of birth	17 October 1942
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death