British bishop (born 1956)
Olivia Josephine Graham (born 21 June 1956) is a British bishop. She has served as Bishop of Reading , a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Oxford , since 2019. She was previously Archdeacon of Berkshire in the same diocese from 2013 to 2019.[1]
Early life and education
Graham was born on 21 June 1956.[2] She was educated at Cobham Hall School , an all-girls private school in Cobham, Kent , and at Stake Farm College, also in Kent.[3]
From 1974 to 1981, she was a teacher in Africa.[3] She then returned to England to study at the University of East Anglia , graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1984.[2] She moved into international development ;[4] working for the United Nations from 1984 to 1986 and for Oxfam from 1986 to 1993.[3]
Ordained ministry
Graham trained for ordained ministry on the St Albans and Oxford Ministry Course , from 1994 to 1997, completing a Certificate of Theology (CTh). She was made deacon at Michaelmas 1997 (5 October), by Richard Harries , Bishop of Oxford , at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford ,[5] . She was ordained as priest the following Michaelmas (4 October 1998) by Mike Hill , area Bishop of Buckingham , at All Saints', High Wycombe .[6] She was appointed Archdeacon of Berkshire in 2013.
Episcopal ministry
On 15 July 2019, the announcement was made that Graham was to become Bishop of Reading , a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Oxford.[7] On 19 November 2019, she was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby during a service at St Paul's Cathedral .[8] As area bishop , she oversees the Reading episcopal area . This is identical to the Archdeaconry of Berkshire she previously oversaw as archdeacon.
In February 2024, Graham announced that she would retire as Bishop of Reading on 30 September 2024.[9] [10]
Views
In November 2022, Graham tweeted that she agreed with Steven Croft 's call that clergy in the Church of England should be free to bless or marry same-sex partners and to enter into a same-sex marriage themselves.[11] [12] This is in contrast to the Church's current official position. [13]
In November 2023, she was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".[14]
Personal life
In 1989, Graham married Keith Malcolm Glenny. Together they have three children: one daughter and two sons.[3]
References
^ "Archdeacon of Berkshire" . Diocese of Oxford .
^ a b "Graham, Olivia Josephine" . Who's Who . Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016 . (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ a b c d Graham, Ven. Olivia Josephine . Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. doi :10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U258748 . ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4 . Retrieved 3 August 2019 .
^ Buckley, Steven (15 July 2019). "Olivia Graham named Bishop of Reading" . Diocese of Oxford . Retrieved 3 August 2019 .
^ "Ordinations" . Church Times . No. 7026. 10 October 1997. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X . Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
^ "Michaelmas Ordinations" . Church Times . No. 7078. 9 October 1998. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X . Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
^ Diocese of Oxford — Olivia Graham named Bishop of Reading Oxford.angliocan.org, (Accessed 15 July 2019)
^ Buckley, Steven (19 November 2019). "Olivia Graham consecrated as Bishop of Reading" . Diocese of Oxford . Retrieved 20 November 2019 .
^ "Bishop of Reading Olivia Graham announces retirement date" . BBC News . 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024 .
^ "Bishop Olivia announces her retirement" . Diocese of Oxford . 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024 .
^ Burgess, Kaya (3 November 2022). "Bishop becomes most senior Church figure to back same-sex marriage" . The Times . ISSN 0140-0460 . Retrieved 3 November 2022 .
^ Graham, Olivia [@LiviJGraham] (4 November 2022). "Grateful to @Steven_Croft for publishing his contemplative, compassionate and courageous views on human sexuality and the Church. I agree" (Tweet ). Retrieved 5 November 2022 – via Twitter .
^ "Clergy should have the freedom to bless and marry same-sex couples, says +Oxford" . Diocese of Oxford . 3 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022 .
^ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops" . Church Times . Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023 .
High Medieval Late Medieval Early modern Late modern
Office holders
Steven Croft , Bishop of Oxford
Olivia Graham , area Bishop of Reading
Gavin Collins , area Bishop of Dorchester
area Bishop of Buckingham (vacant)
AEO : Paul Thomas , Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro , Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet
Sarah Foot , Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
Jonathan Chaffey , Archdeacon of Oxford
Guy Elsmore , Archdeacon of Buckingham
Stephen Pullin , Archdeacon of Berkshire
David Tyler , Archdeacon of Dorchester
Selected deaneries