David Gillett

David Keith Gillett (born 25 January 1945) was the 3rd Anglican Bishop of Bolton from 1999 until 2008.

Biography

Gillett was educated at Wellingborough Grammar School, and studied for a BA and an MPhil at Leeds University^[1] and completed his ordination training at Oak Hill Theological College before embarking on an ecclesiastical career with a Curacy in Watford.^[2]

From 1971 he was Northern Travelling Secretary of Pathfinders and the Church Youth Fellowships Association CYFA,^[3] an organization that supports Christian teenagers.^[4] After a spell as Lecturer and first Director of Extension Studies at St John's College, Nottingham^[5] he became one of the leaders at the Christian Renewal Centre in Northern Ireland working for reconciliation in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles in the late 1970s/early '80s. He then served an Incumbency at Lewsey in Luton. He was appointed Principal of Trinity College, Bristol in 1988. Eleven years later he was elevated to the Suffragan Bishopric of Bolton.

His main specialisms are in the area of ministerial training, Old Testament studies,spirituality and interfaith relations. From 2006 to 2008 he was the first Chair of the national Christian Muslim Forum. A keen photographer and gardener,he retired in 2008.^[6] He then became an honorary asst. bishop and Interfaith Adviser in the Diocese of Norwich. In 2010 he was appointed a member of the Advisory Board of the Council of Christians and Jews and elected Chair of Norwich Interfaith Link.

References