Jonathan Gibbs (bishop)

Bishop of Huddersfield (2014–2022)
Bishop of Huddersfield (2014–2022)
Orders
Ordination	1989 (deacon) ; 1990 (priest)
Consecration	17 October 2014; by Archbishop John Sentamu
Personal details
Born	Jonathan Robert Gibbs; 6 May 1961 (age 62)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglicanism
Parents	Phillip Gibbs
Spouse	Toni née Millsted
Children	2 sons; 1 dau.
Education	The King's School, Chester
Alma mater	Jesus College, Oxford ; Ridley Hall, Cambridge ; Jesus College, Cambridge

Jonathan Robert Gibbs (born 6 May 1961), is an Anglican prelate.

Bishop of Huddersfield from 2014 to 2022.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in 1961,

MA (Oxon).^[4]

In 1984, Gibbs entered

doctoral thesis was titled "The challenge of transformation: towards a theology of work in the light of the thought of the Revd Dr Richard Niebuhr".^[5]

Ordained ministry

Gibbs was

episcopate in 2014.^[3]

Episcopal ministry

In August 2014, it was announced that Gibbs would be the first

consecrated a bishop by Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.^[6]

On 31 March 2022, it was announced that Gibbs would succeed

see of Rochester.^[7] He took up the See on 24 May 2022 (at St Mary-le-Bow) upon the confirmation of his election^[8] and was afterwards installed as Bishop of Rochester during a service at Rochester Cathedral on 24 September 2022.^[9]

Views

In 2023, following the news that the House of Bishops of the Church of England was to introduce proposals for blessing same-sex relationships, he signed an open letter, stating:^[10]

many Christians in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion, together with Christians from across the churches of world Christianity, continue to believe that marriage is given by God for the union of a man and woman and that it cannot be extended to those who are of the same sex. [...] Without seeking to diminish the value of many committed same-sex relationships, for which there is much to give thanks, we find ourselves constrained by what we sincerely believe the Scriptures teach which cannot be set aside.^[10]

Bishop Gibbs voted against introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.^[11]^[12]

Personal life

Gibbs married Toni Millsted in 1986.^[6] Together, they have three children: Harriet, Edward and Thomas.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b "Huddersfield's first ever bishop named as Jonathan Gibbs". BBC News. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
^ "Gibbs, Jonathan Robert". 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 ^e "Jonathan Robert Gibbs". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Suffragan Bishop of Huddersfield: Jonathan Robert Gibbs". News. Government of the United Kingdom. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^ Gibbs, Jonathan Robert (1989). "The challenge of transformation: towards a theology of work in the light of the thought of H. Richard Niebuhr". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Celebration as the new bishops for Huddersfield and Bradford are consecrated". Diocese of Leeds. Church of England. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ "Appointment of Bishop of Rochester: 31 March 2022". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^ "(Section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
^ "New Bishop of Rochester announced". Diocese of Rochester. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
^ "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. 7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.
^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
^ "The consecration of Bishop Dr Jonathan Gibbs". Diocese of Chester. Church of England. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Office created	Bishop of Huddersfield 2014–2022	Succeeded by Smitha Prasadam
Preceded by James Langstaff	Bishop of Rochester 2022–present	Succeeded by in office

[bbc_-_Huddersfield's_first_ever_bishop_named_as_Jonathan_Gibbs-1] "Huddersfield's first ever bishop named as Jonathan Gibbs". BBC News. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.

[2] "Gibbs, Jonathan Robert". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[crockford-3] "Jonathan Robert Gibbs". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.

[gov_-_Suffragan_Bishop_of_Huddersfield:_Jonathan_Robert_Gibbs-4] "Suffragan Bishop of Huddersfield: Jonathan Robert Gibbs". News. Government of the United Kingdom. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.

[5] Gibbs, Jonathan Robert (1989). "The challenge of transformation: towards a theology of work in the light of the thought of H. Richard Niebuhr". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

[DWYD_-_consecration-6] "Celebration as the new bishops for Huddersfield and Bradford are consecrated". Diocese of Leeds. Church of England. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

[GOV_Rochester-7] "Appointment of Bishop of Rochester: 31 March 2022". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

[8] "(Section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.

[New_Rochester-9] "New Bishop of Rochester announced". Diocese of Rochester. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

[Doctrine_of_Marriage-10] "LLF: a paper on the Doctrine of Marriage". Thinking Anglicans. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

[11] "GENERAL SYNOD NOVEMBER 2023 GROUP OF SESSIONS BUSINESS DONE AT 5 P.M." (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023. 7. The motion (as amended) 'That this Synod, conscious that the Church is not of one mind on the issues raised by Living in Love and Faith, that we are in a period of uncertainty, and that many in the Church on all sides are being deeply hurt at this time, recognise the progress made by the House of Bishops towards implementing the motion on Living in Love and Faith passed by this Synod in February 2023, as reported in GS 2328, encourage the House to continue its work of implementation, and ask the House to consider whether some standalone services for same-sex couples could be made available for use, possibly on a trial basis, on the timescale envisaged by the motion passed by the Synod in February 2023.' was carried following a counted vote by Houses.

[12] "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

[13] "The consecration of Bishop Dr Jonathan Gibbs". Diocese of Chester. Church of England. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

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v t e Bishops of Rochester
Pre-Conquest	Justus Romanus Paulinus of York Ithamar Damianus Putta Cwichelm Gebmund Tobias Aldwulf Dunn Eardwulf Diora Waermund (I) Beornmod Tatnoth Badenoth Waermund (II) Cuthwulf Swithwulf Ceolmund Cyneferth Burgric Beorhtsige Ælfstan Godwine (I) Godwine (II) Siward
Conquest to Reformation	Arnost Gundulf Ralph d'Escures Ernulf John (I) John (II) Ascelin Walter Waleran Gilbert Glanvill Benedict of Sausetun Henry Sandford Richard Wendene Lawrence of St Martin Walter de Merton John Bradfield John Kirkby Thomas Ingoldsthorpe Thomas Wouldham Hamo Hethe John Sheppey William Whittlesey Thomas Trilleck Thomas Brinton William Bottlesham John Bottlesham Richard Young John Kemp John Langdon Thomas Brunce William Wells John Low Thomas Rotherham John Alcock John Russell Edmund Audley Thomas Savage Richard FitzJames John Fisher
Post-Reformation	John Hilsey Nicholas Heath Henry Holbeach Nicholas Ridley John Ponet John Scory Maurice Griffith Edmund Allen Edmund Gheast Edmund Freke John Piers John Young William Barlow Richard Neile John Buckeridge Walter Curle John Bowle John Warner Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) John Warner John Dolben Francis Turner Thomas Sprat Francis Atterbury Samuel Bradford Joseph Wilcocks Zachary Pearce John Thomas Samuel Horsley Thomas Dampier Walker King Hugh Percy George Murray Joseph Wigram Thomas Legh Claughton Anthony Thorold Randall Davidson Edward Talbot John Harmer Linton Smith Christopher Chavasse David Say Michael Turnbull Michael Nazir-Ali James Langstaff Jonathan Gibbs

v t e Diocese of Rochester
Rochester Cathedral Bishopscourt, Rochester Diocesan Office, Rochester
Office holders	Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Rochester Simon Burton-Jones, Bishop suffragan of Tonbridge AEO: Bishop suffragan of Richborough (vacant) & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet Philip Hesketh, Dean of Rochester Andy Wooding Jones, Archdeacon of Rochester Sharon Copestake, Archdeacon of Tonbridge Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley
Historic offices	Bishop suffragan of Southwark (1891–1905; diocesan see created) Archdeacon of Essex (1846–1877; moved to St Albans then Chelmsford ) Archdeacon of St Albans (1846–1877; moved to St Albans) Archdeacon of Kingston (1878/9–1905; became Diocese of Southwark )