Steven Croft (bishop)

For other people of the same name, see Steven Croft.
The Right Reverend
Steven Croft
Bishop of Sheffield

Croft after his consecration service as Bishop of Sheffield
Diocese Diocese of Sheffield
Installed 9 May 2009
Predecessor Jack Nicholls
Other posts Warden, Cranmer Hall (19962004)
Archbishops' Missioner and Fresh Expressions Team Leader (20042009)
Orders
Ordination 1983
Consecration 25 January 2009
Personal details
Born (1957-05-29) 29 May 1957
Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Nationality British
Denomination Anglican
Spouse Ann
Children 4 children: Paul, Andy, Amy, Sarah
Alma mater Worcester College, Oxford

Steven John Lindsey Croft (born 29 May 1957[1]) is a Church of England bishop and theologian specialising in mission. He is the seventh Bishop of Sheffield following his enthronement in Sheffield Cathedral on 9 May 2009,[2] having been consecrated by the Archbishop of York on Sunday 25 January 2009.[3] Previously he was Archbishops’ Missioner and Team Leader of Fresh Expressions, a joint Church of England and Methodist initiative. He falls within the open evangelical tradition of Anglicanism.

Education

Croft attended Heath Grammar School in Halifax and studied classics and theology at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating in 1980. He trained for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham, earning a PhD in 1984 with his thesis The identity of the Individual in the Psalms.[4]

Ministry

Croft was ordained as deacon in the Diocese of London in 1983. The following year, he was ordained as priest. From 1983 to 1987 he was the curate of the parish church of St Andrew's Enfield. After that, he became vicar of Ovenden, an Urban Priority Area parish in the Diocese of Wakefield, from 1987 to 1996. In 1997, Croft was made a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council, which he was a part of until 2000.

19962004: Warden (i.e. head) of Cranmer Hall

20042009: Archbishops' Missioner and first Team Leader of Fresh Expressions

Croft was appointed by the archbishops of Canterbury and York to help found Fresh Expressions, a joint Church of England and Methodist initiative "to help Christians of any denomination think about ways of starting and growing fresh expressions of church in their area" where a fresh expression is defined as "a form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church".[5] In recognition of this work he was awarded the silver Cross of St Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury.[6]

Croft was nominated as the next Bishop of Sheffield, succeeding Jack Nicholls who retired in July 2008,[7] and formally elected by the Chapter of Sheffield Cathedral in November 2008.[8] he was consecrated as a bishop on 25 January 2009,[3] and started work in the diocese following his formal enthronement on 9 May 2009.[2] This was followed by three Welcome Eucharists celebrated in various locations around the diocese to allow more people to meet the new bishop.[2]

In 2012 Croft was nominated by Rowan Williams to be the Anglican fraternal delegate to the Synod of Bishops in Rome.[9]

Croft became a member of the House of Lords on 15 July 2013.[10]

Personal life

Croft was born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1957. He is married to Ann and has four children; Paul, Andy, Amy and Sarah.[7]

Styles

Works

References

  1. Who's Who 2012 – Sheffield, Bishop of
  2. 1 2 3 "Welcoming the new Bishop of Sheffield". Dean and Chapter of Sheffield. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Diocesan News Release". Sheffield-Diocese.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  4. http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/1501 Retrieved 25 October 2008
  5. http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk//section.asp?id=3547&cachefixer= Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  6. "Dr Croft awarded cross of St Augustine". Fresh Expressions. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  7. 1 2 "New Bishop of Sheffield appointed". BBC Online. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  8. The London Gazette: no. 58891. p. 18243. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  9. "Anniversary synod for Vatican II is to hear Dr Williams". Church Times. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  10. "Bishop of Sheffield publisher=UK Parliament". Retrieved 13 October 2013.

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
John Pritchard
Warden of Cranmer Hall
1996–2004
Succeeded by
Anne Dyer
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Jack Nicholls
Bishop of Sheffield
2009–present
Incumbent
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