Christopher Foster (bishop)
Christopher Foster | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Portsmouth | |
 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Portsmouth |
| In office | 2010–2021 |
| Predecessor | Kenneth Stevenson |
| Other post | Bishop of Hertford (2001–2010) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1981 |
| Consecration | 21 October 2001 by George Carey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 November 1953 |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Bishopsgrove, Fareham |
| Spouse | |
| Children | two (with Julia)[2] |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Bishop of Portsmouth 6 February 2014 – 31 May 2021 | |
Christopher Richard James Foster (born 7 November 1953) is a retired Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Portsmouth in the Church of England from 2010 to 2021.
Early life
Foster was born on 7 November 1953. He was educated at Durham University[3] , studying Economics and Politics, where he held the position of Chapel Clerk at University College. He completed a Masters degree in Econometrics at the University of Manchester. He studied for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge, obtaining a Theology degree at Trinity Hall.
Career
Foster was a lecturer in Economics at Durham University, 1976/7, and a part-time Economics supervisor at St John’s College, Cambridge 1977-1980.
He was made a deacon on St Peter's Day (29 June) 1980[4] and ordained a priest the following Petertide (28 June 1981) – both times by Kenneth Skelton, Bishop of Lichfield, at Lichfield Cathedral[5] – and began his ordained ministry with a curacy in Tettenhall Regis in Wolverhampton, after which he became chaplain of Wadham College, Oxford. Following this he was vicar of Christ Church Southgate[6] and finally a canon residentiary and sub-dean at St Albans Cathedral.
On 21 October 2001, he was consecrated a bishop by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Southwark Cathedral,[7] to serve the Diocese of St Albans as suffragan Bishop of Hertford.[2] In February 2010, it was announced that Foster would be the new Bishop of Portsmouth.[1][8] He was enthroned on 18 September 2010.
In 2011 he was awarded an honorary degree, DLitt, by the University of Hertfordshire. [9]
On 13 December 2020, he announced that he would be retiring as Bishop of Portsmouth from April 2021.[10] He retired on 24 April 2021.[11]
Foster was appointed as a Trustee on the board the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in 2021 chairing the Ethics Committee and the People and Culture Committee. [12]
in 2022 he was appointed as a Council member of the Cremation Society.[13]
From 2022 to 2026 he was a non-executive member of NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), chairing the Finance Committee, Remuneration Committee and the People Board.
Since 2026 he has been a non-executive member of the boards of NHS Bath & North-east Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB, NHS Dorset ICB, and NHS Somerset ICB, as chair of the Population Health and Commissioning Committee.[14]
Views
Welfare reform
Foster has spoken out against the Conservative government's changes to the welfare state and austerity measures. In October 2015, he called proposed cuts to tax credits "morally indefensible":
It's clear to me and many others that these proposals blatantly threaten damage to the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. This must not be the way to achieve the Government's goal at a cost to those, who if we believe the rhetoric, the Government intends to encourage and support. To many in my diocese and beyond this seems punishing rather than encouragement.[15]
Personal life
Foster's first wife died in 2001; they have two adult children.[2] He married his second wife, Sally, in 2006.[1][16]
Styles
- The Reverend Christopher Foster (1981–1994)
- The Reverend Canon Christopher Foster (1994–2001)
- The Right Reverend Christopher Foster (2001–present)
References
- 1 2 3 Official notification of appointment as Bishop of Portsmouth
- 1 2 3 Official notification of appointment as Bishop of Hertford
- ↑ "Foster, Christopher Richard James". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 10 June 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6126. 11 July 1980. p. 2. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ↑ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6179. 17 July 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ↑ Church website
- ↑ "News (in brief): Say what you really think, two new bishops told". Church Times. No. 7236. 26 October 2001. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 11 October 2015 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ↑ "New bishop for south-east Hampshire". Hampshire Chronicle. Winchester, Hampshire. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "Welwyn Garden City's David James among those honoured by Hatfield-based University of Hertfordshire". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
- ↑ "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - Bishop Christopher announces his retirement".
- ↑ Portsmouth Anglican
- ↑ "Trustees". Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Council Members and Officers of The Cremation Society". www.cremation.org.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ "Our ICB Board". Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ The Independent (London) 27 October 2015 Tax credits: House of Lords votes to delay cuts by three years
- ↑ Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9