David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes

David Michael Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes, KCVO, PC (born 14 April 1940) is a retired Anglican bishop who was the Archbishop of York in the Church of England from 1995 to 2005.^[1]

Early career

Hope was ordained deacon in 1965 and priest in 1966. He was the Principal of St Stephen's House, an Anglo-Catholic theological college in Oxford, from 1974 until 1982. He was Vicar of All Saints, Margaret Street, an Anglo-Catholic church in the West End of London from 1982 to 1985 before becoming the Bishop of Wakefield from 1985 and then the Bishop of London from 1991. Hope was Master of the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham from 1982 to 1993.

Archbishop of York

Hope was enthroned as Archbishop of York on 8 December 1995.^[2] After Peter Tatchell alleged in the same year that Hope was gay as part of a much criticised OutRage! "outing" campaign,^[3][4] Hope said that his sexuality is "a grey area" and that he had "sought to lead a celibate life" and is "perfectly happy and content". On 26 October 1995 he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO),^[5] an honour in the personal gift of the Queen. Hope was one of four English bishops who declined to sign the Cambridge Accord, an attempt in 1999 to find agreement on affirming certain human rights of homosexuals, notwithstanding differences within the church on the morality of homosexual behaviour.^[6] On 30 June 2004, together with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and on behalf of all 114 Anglican bishops, he wrote to Tony Blair expressing deep concern about Government policy and criticising the coalition troops' conduct in Iraq. The letter cited the abuse of Iraqi detainees, which was described as having been "deeply damaging", and stated that the government's apparent double standards "diminish the credibility of western governments". (BBC) (The Scotsman). Hope conducted a series of disciplinary hearings involving errant clergy within his province.

On 1 August 2004 it was announced that Hope would step down as archbishop to become a parish priest at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley. He did so on 28 February 2005.

Later years

In recognition of his contribution to the church, Downing Street announced on 25 January 2005 that Hope was to be created a Life Peer;^[7] the title was gazetted as Baron Hope of Thornes, of Thornes in the County of West Yorkshire, on 6 April 2005 (dated 31 March 2005).^[8] On 4 August 2006 he was appointed to the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved for a period of five years.^[9] On 10 September 2006, Hope announced his resignation as Vicar of St Margaret's Ilkley due to ill health. He stated that he intended to continue to work a three-day week at St Margaret's until the end of 2006, but after that would serve as an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Bradford (and later in the successor Diocese of Leeds.) On 1 October 2007 it was announced that he would also serve as an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe;^[10] that license lapsed in 2012. Hope has also been an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Blackburn since 2008.

In April 2013, it was reported that in 1999 and 2003, Hope had been made aware of allegations of child sexual abuse against a former Dean of Manchester, Robert Waddington. Hope removed Waddington's right to officiate at services but did not refer him to the authorities due to his ill health.^[11] Following the 2014 report of the Cahill Inquiry, Hope resigned his post as honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Leeds on 27 October 2014.^[12]

Styles and titles

• David Hope Esq (1940–1965)
• Dr David Hope (1965)
• The Revd Dr David Hope (1965–1985)
• The Rt Revd Dr David Hope (1985–1991)
• The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dr David Hope (1991–1995)
• The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr David Hope KCVO (1995–2005)
• The Rt Revd and Rt Hon The Lord Hope of Thornes KCVO (2005–present)

References

1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54149. p. 12103. 6 September 1995. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
2. ↑ Abide with me: the world of Victorian hymns – Bradley, Ian C. – p. 232
3. ↑ http://www.rainbow.at/news/1056532440 Rainbow (german)
4. ↑ "David Hope's triumph of faith". Yorkshire Post. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 22 October 2014. 
5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 54202. p. 14877. 3 November 1995. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
6. ↑ "Cambridge Accord (with UK signatories and refusals to sign)". Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 57551. p. 1377. 4 February 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 57605. p. 4469. 6 April 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 58062. p. 10685. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2007.
10. ↑ "Former Archbishop Accepts New Role in Europe". Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007. 
11. ↑ Batty, David (10 May 2013). "Church of England facing new child abuse allegations". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2013. 
12. ↑ Lord Hope ends formal ministry after Cahill Inquiry findings

External links

• David Hope on Desert Island Discs
• Debrett's People of Today