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Peter Firth (bishop)

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Peter Firth

Bishop of Malmesbury
DioceseDiocese of Bristol
In office1983–1994
PredecessorFreddy Temple
SuccessorMichael Doe
as Bishop of Swindon
Other post(s)Honorary assistant bishop in Gloucester (2003–2024)
Orders
Ordination1955 (deacon); 1956 (priest)
Consecration30 November 1983
by Robert Runcie
Personal details
Born(1929-07-12)12 July 1929
Died16 February 2024(2024-02-16) (aged 94)
DenominationAnglican
ParentsAtkinson and Edith Pepper
SpouseFelicity Wilding (m. 1955)
ChildrenTwo sons, three daughters
Alma materEmmanuel College, Cambridge

Peter James Firth (12 July 1929 – 16 February 2024) was an English Anglican clergyman who was the Bishop suffragan of Malmesbury from 1983 until 1994.

Biography

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Born on 12 July 1929, [1] Firth was educated at Stockport Grammar School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford, and was ordained deacon in 1955 and priest in 1956.[2] He was a curate at St Stephen's Barbourne.[3] Following this he was priest in charge at the Church of the Ascension, Malvern and then Rector of St George's Gorton and in the early 1960's was a regular contributor to religious broadcasts at BBC Manchester. From 1967 to 1983 he worked in various capacities for the Religious Broadcasting Unit at BBC South West.[4] He was ordained to the episcopate by Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 30 November 1983 at Southwark Cathedral.[5] He retired in 1994 and was an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester.

Firth died on 16 February 2024, at the age of 94.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Who's Who 1992 “(London, A & C Black ISBN 0-7136-3514-2)
  2. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th Edition, p. 315.
  3. ^ Crockford's clerical directory, 1995” (Lambeth,Church House ISBN 0-7151-8088-6)
  4. ^ ”Debrett's People of Today 1992” (London, Debrett's) ISBN 1-870520-09-2)
  5. ^ "New bishop consecrated". Church Times. No. 6303. 2 December 1983. p. 3. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. ^ "Church Times: Deaths, 23 February 2024". Retrieved 25 February 2024.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Malmesbury
1983–1994
Succeeded byas Bishop of Swindon