John Pritchard Becomes a Bishop

John Lawrence Pritchard, born on 22 April 1948 in Salford, Lancashire, is a retired Church of England bishop who served as the Bishop of Oxford from 2007 to 2014. He was educated at Arnold School, a direct grant grammar school for boys in Blackpool. He later studied jurisprudence at St Peter’s College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1970, which was subsequently elevated to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) in 1973 as per Oxford tradition.

In 1970, Pritchard entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college, where he studied theology and trained for ordination. Two years later, he received a Certificate in Pastoral Theology. He was ordained as a deacon in 1972 and as a priest in 1973. His early ministry included serving as a curate at St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham (1972–1976), followed by roles as Youth Chaplain and Assistant Director of Education in the Diocese of Bath and Wells (1976–1980). In 1980, he became priest-in-charge of Wilton, Taunton.

Pritchard’s contributions to theological education began in 1988, when he was appointed Director of Pastoral Studies at Cranmer Hall, Durham. In 1993, he became the college’s warden. In 1996, he was appointed Archdeacon of Canterbury and a canon residentiary of Canterbury Cathedral.

In January 2002, he was consecrated as a bishop by David Hope, the Archbishop of York, and served as the Bishop of Jarrow, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Durham, until 2007. On 11 December 2006, it was announced that he would become the 42nd Bishop of Oxford. He formally assumed the role at his confirmation of election in London on 23 March 2007 and began his ministry in the diocese on 8 June 2007 with a service of inauguration at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

In 2008, Pritchard publicly supported a proposal for a mosque in Oxford to broadcast the adhan (Muslim call to prayer) from its minaret. This decision attracted criticism and prompted hostile responses. After seven years as Bishop of Oxford, Pritchard retired on 31 October 2014. The following year, he was appointed honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Durham.

On 11 February 2017, Pritchard, along with 13 other retired bishops, signed an open letter addressed to the Church of England’s House of Bishops. The letter criticised the bishops’ report to General Synod on sexuality, which recommended no changes to the church’s canons or practices on the matter. By 15 February, the report was rejected by General Synod after additional serving and retired bishops voiced their opposition.

Pritchard has been married to Wendy, a St Hugh’s College, Oxford, graduate, since 1972. The couple have two daughters: Amanda, who serves as Chief Executive of NHS England, and Nicola. Following his retirement, Pritchard and his wife settled in Richmond, North Yorkshire.