Stephen Sykes

Stephen Whitefield Sykes ( born August 1, 1939 in Bristol ) is a British Anglican theologian and university lecturer. He was from 1990 until September 1999 the Bishop of Ely in the Church of England.

Sykes studied at St John's College, University of Cambridge. Where he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts. He acquired there also the Master of Arts ( Oxbridge and Dublin). In preparation for the priesthood, he studied theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon Theological College, near Oxford. In 1964 he was ordained a deacon; 1965 was followed by the ordination. From 1964 to 1974 he was Lecturer ( Lecturer ) in Theology at Cambridge University, first as an Assistant Lecturer in Divinity ( 1964-1967 ), then as a lecturer in Divinity ( 1967-1974 ). He has served as Dean of the Chapel of St John 's College, Cambridge, in particular for the services, responsible. In 1974 he was appointed as the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at the University of Durham and worked as a professor in theology. At the same time he took over the office of a related Residenzkanonikers ( residentiary Canon, Canon ) at Durham Cathedral. In 1985 he returned to the University of Cambridge where he took over the chair of the Regius Professor of Divinity; at the same time he was connected with it, a member of the cathedral chapter and canon of Ely Cathedral. From 1980 to 1985 he was Chairman ( Chairman ) of the North of England Institute for Christian Education ( neice ). From 1985 to 1990 he worked as a vicar ( Curate ) on the St John the Evangelist 's Church in Cambridge.

End of February 1990, it was announced his election as the new Bishop of Ely. On 2 May 1990, he was ordained a bishop in accordance with the provisions of the Book of Common Prayer, in Southwark Cathedral. On 5 May 1990, his solemn enthronement in Ely Cathedral. Sykes was, as the successor of Peter Walker, from 1990 until his resignation on September 1, 1999, the 76th Bishop of Ely in the Church of England. His successor as Bishop of Ely was in May 2000 Anthony Russell. Sykes was from 1991 a member of the Doctrine Commission of the Church of England; 1996-2001 he was the Chairman ( Chairman ).

Sykes returned in September 1999 returned to the University and was chief ( principal) of St John's College, University of Durham; he held until August 2006 this office. After his retirement he worked as a volunteer auxiliary bishop ( Honorary Assistant Bishop) in the diocese of Durham.

Sykes has written numerous books and articles on religious and canonical issues. He was made an honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Zurich in 2002. In October 2009, he received an Honorary Doctorate ( Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity ) of the University of Cambridge.

In 1962 he married his wife Marianne Hinton. The marriage produced three children, a son and two daughters went out.

Membership in the House of Lords

Sykes was in his capacity of the House of Lords as Bishop of Ely from August 1996 to July 1999 as a chaplain Lord.

In Hansard total of 17 oral contributions by Stephen Sykes from the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 are documented. His inaugural address was delivered on 12 November 1997 as part of a debate on higher education policy. On 8 July 1999 he enlisted during his tenure in the House of Lords last to speak.