Stephen Sykes
The Rt Revd Stephen Sykes MA (Cantab) | |
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Bishop of Ely | |
Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
In office | 1990 – 1 September 1999 |
Predecessor | Peter Walker |
Successor | Anthony Russell |
Other posts |
Principal of St John's College, Durham (1999 – 2006) Regius Professor of Divinity (Cambridge; 1985 – 1990) Van Mildert Professor of Divinity (Durham; 1974 – 1985) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1964 (deacon); 1965 (priest) |
Consecration | 2 May 1990 |
Personal details | |
Born | 1 August 1939 |
Died | 24 September 2014 75) | (aged
Denomination | Anglican |
Spouse | Marianne Hinton (m. 1962) |
Children | 1 son; 2 daughters |
Profession | Academic (Professor of theology/divinity) |
Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
Stephen Whitefield Sykes (1 August 1939 – 24 September 2014[1]) was a Church of England bishop and academic. He was the Bishop of Ely from 1990 to 1999. He held professorial chairs in divinity at both Durham University and Cambridge University. He was the Principal of St John's College, Durham from 1999 to 2006.
Early life
Sykes was born on 1 August 1939 in Bristol, England; his father was principal of one of the city's theological colleges.[2] He was educated at Monkton Combe School, then an all-boys independent school in Bath, Somerset.[3] He matriculated into St John's College, Cambridge in 1958 to study theology. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree 1961.[4][5] He then trained for ordination at Ripon Hall, Oxford.[4]
Career
Religious life
Sykes was ordained deacon in 1964 and priest in 1965.[6] In 1964, he returned to St John's College, Cambridge, his alma mater, as dean of the college chapel.[7] When he moved to Durham in 1974, he became a residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral. Having returned to Cambridge in 1985, he was given a corresponding honorary canonry at Ely Cathedral.[5] He served as a curate of St John the Evangelist's Church, Cambridge, from 1985 to 1990.
On 2 May 1990,[8] he was consecrated as the Bishop of Ely.[9] He became a Lord Spiritual through seniority and served in the House of Lords from 31 August 1996 to 31 July 1999.[10] He stepped down from this position on 1 September 1999[8] and returned to education.[11] From 1991 he was a member of the Doctrine Commission of the Church of England, taking over as chairman in 1996. He was an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Durham.
Academic career
In addition to serving as dean of St John's College, Sykes was a lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge.[5] In 1974, he was appointed as the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at Durham University. In 1985, he returned to Cambridge University to take up the chair of Regius Professor of Divinity. During a break from academia he served as a bishop. In 1999, he was appointed the principal of St John's College, Durham, in succession to David Day. He retired in 2006.
Later life
Following his retirement, Sykes remained living in Durham.[5] In his later years, he developed a neurological condition that confined him to a wheelchair.[2]
He died on 24 September 2014.[5] He was survived by his wife and children, though his wife died eight weeks later.[2] His funeral was held in Durham and his burial in Cambridge.[12] He was buried at a woodland burial site.[2]
Personal life
In 1962, Sykes married Marianne Hinton, known as Joy. Together they had three children; one son and two daughters. Their son, Richard, is a barrister and both daughters, Joanna and Juliet, trained as teachers.[2]
References
- ↑ "Archbishop Mourns Bp. Sykes". The Living Church. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Right Rev Stephen Sykes". The Times. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ↑ "Stephen Whitefield SYKES". People of Today. Debrett's. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stephen Sykes, 1939-2014". Discover St John's. St John's College, Cambridge. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "The Right Reverend Stephen Sykes - obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ↑ "The Right Reverend Stephen Sykes". News & Events. Diocese of Ely. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ "Bishop of Ely pays tribute to Bishop Stephen Sykes". News & Events. Diocese of Ely. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Diocese of Ely – Stephen Sykes
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 52063. p. 2765. 1 March 1990. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ↑ "Mr Stephen Sykes". Hansard. UK Parliament. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 55844. p. 5127. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
- ↑ Day, Jordan (26 September 2014). "Former Bishop of Ely, Rt Rev Stephen Sykes, dies, aged 75". Ely News. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
Academic offices | ||
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Preceded by Hugh Turner |
Van Mildert Professor of Divinity (Durham) 1974 – 1985 |
Succeeded by Daniel W. Hardy |
Preceded by Henry Chadwick |
Regius Professor of Divinity (Cambridge) 1985 – 1990 |
Succeeded by David F. Ford |
Church of England titles | ||
Preceded by Peter Walker |
Bishop of Ely 1990 – 1999 |
Succeeded by Anthony Russell |
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