David Sheppard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend and Right Honourable The Lord Sheppard of Liverpool
Sheppard in 1969
Born	David Stuart Sheppard (1929-03-06)6 March 1929 Reigate, Surrey, England
Died	5 March 2005(2005-03-05) (aged 75) West Kirby, Merseyside, England
Spouse(s)	Grace Isaac
Children	Jenny Sinclair
Bishop of Liverpool Church Church of England Diocese Diocese of Liverpool Enthroned 1975 Reign ended 1997 (retired) Predecessor Stuart Blanch Successor James Jones Other posts Labour life peer 1998–2005 Bishop of Woolwich 1969–1975 Orders Ordination 29 September 1955 (deacon); 29 September 1956 (priest) Consecration 18 October 1969 by Michael Ramsey Personal details Occupation Cricketer
Cricket information Batting Right-handed Bowling Slow left arm orthodox International information National side England Test debut (cap 353) 12 August 1950 v West Indies Last Test 19 March 1963 v New Zealand Domestic team information Years Team 1947–1962 Sussex 1950–1952 Cambridge University Career statistics Competition Test FC Matches 22 230 Runs scored 1,172 15,838 Batting average 37.80 43.51 100s/50s 3/6 45/75 Top score 119 239* Balls bowled – 120 Wickets – 2 Bowling average – 44.00 5 wickets in innings – 0 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling – 1/5 Catches/stumpings 12/– 194/– Source: Cricinfo

David Stuart Sheppard (March 6, 1929 – March 5, 2005) was a special person. He was a Church of England bishop and also a talented cricket player. He played for Sussex and England when he was younger. Later, he became the Bishop of Liverpool from 1975 to 1997.

Sheppard is the only ordained minister (a person who works for the church) to have played Test cricket. Test cricket is the longest form of the sport.

Early Life and Education

David Sheppard was born in Reigate, England, and grew up in Charlwood, Surrey. His father was a lawyer. After his father passed away in the late 1930s, his family moved to Sussex.

He went to Northcliffe House School and then Sherborne School in Dorset. It was at Sherborne that his amazing cricket skills first became clear. After serving in the army for a short time, he went to Cambridge University in 1947. He studied history there and started playing first-class cricket.

Cricket Star: David Sheppard's Career

David Sheppard was a very successful cricketer. He played for Cambridge University and was even captain in 1952. He also played for Sussex and for the England national team.

Making His Mark in Test Cricket

He played his first Test match against West Indies in August 1950. He had already scored many runs for Cambridge against the West Indies team that summer. In 1952, he was the best English batsman, scoring 2,262 runs. He made 7 centuries (100 runs in one game) for Cambridge University that year.

His highest score in a Test match was 119 runs against India in 1952. In 1953, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. This is a big award in cricket.

Captain for England

In 1954, David Sheppard even captained England in two Test matches against Pakistan. This happened because the usual captain, Len Hutton, was not available. England won one match and drew the other. The series ended in a 1–1 tie.

In 1956, he played against Australia and scored 113 runs in a famous match. In that game, Jim Laker took 19 wickets, which is an incredible achievement. England won by a huge margin.

Standing Up Against Injustice

David Sheppard strongly disagreed with apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was a system of racial separation and discrimination. He signed a letter in 1958 that spoke out against apartheid in sports. He believed in racial equality.

He refused to play against the South African team in 1960. He also spoke out against a planned tour by the South African team in 1968–69. This tour was eventually cancelled because the South African government would not allow a player named Basil D'Oliveira to play. Sheppard also supported the Fair Cricket Campaign in 1970 against another planned South African tour.

David Sheppard played his last Test matches against New Zealand in early 1963.

Life as a Church Leader

While at Cambridge, David Sheppard became deeply involved in evangelical Christianity. This is a branch of Christianity that focuses on a personal relationship with God. He trained to become a minister from 1953 to 1955.

From Cricketer to Bishop

He was ordained (became a minister) in 1955. He continued to play Test cricket sometimes until 1963. This made him the first ordained minister to play Test cricket. From 1957, he worked at the Mayflower Family Centre in Canning Town, helping families in need.

In 1969, he became the Bishop of Woolwich. This is a type of bishop who helps a main bishop. Then, in 1975, he became the Bishop of Liverpool. He was the youngest main bishop in England at that time.

Working for Social Change

As Bishop of Liverpool, David Sheppard was very active. He spoke out and campaigned on important issues. He cared a lot about poverty and social problems in the inner cities. He also continued his strong opposition to apartheid.

He worked closely with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Worlock. They teamed up to help the community, especially after difficult events like the 1981 Toxteth riots and the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium disaster. They showed how different churches could work together for good.

Sheppard often criticized the government of Margaret Thatcher. He believed they needed to do more to help people in poor areas. In 1985, he helped write a report called "Faith in the City". This report talked about the challenges in urban areas and how the church could help.

Retirement and Legacy

David Sheppard retired in 1997. In 1998, he was given a special title, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool. This meant he became a life peer and could sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He represented the Labour benches there.

He passed away on March 5, 2005, just before his 76th birthday. He is remembered for his unique journey from a cricket star to a dedicated bishop who fought for social justice.

Books and Writings

Starting in the mid-1950s, David Sheppard wrote a weekly column for Woman's Own magazine. He wrote about faith in a way that was easy for everyone to understand. This column continued for 17 years.

He also wrote several books:

• Built As a City (1974) was about helping people in cities through the church.
• Bias to the Poor (1983) focused on his belief that society should prioritize helping those in need.
• He wrote two autobiographies (books about his own life): Parson's Pitch (1964) and Steps Along Hope Street (2002). Hope Street is a famous street in Liverpool that connects the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals.

Personal Life

In 1957, David Sheppard married Grace Isaac. They had one daughter, Jenny, who was born in 1962.

In December 2003, he shared that he had been battling cancer. He died on March 5, 2005. His ashes were buried in Liverpool Cathedral. His wife, Grace, passed away in 2010.

Honors and Memorials

• In 2001, David Sheppard became the President of Sussex County Cricket Club.
• On May 11, 2008, a special statue was unveiled in Liverpool. It's called the Sheppard-Worlock Statue. It honors both David Sheppard and Archbishop Derek Worlock. The statue looks like two bronze doors and is located on Hope Street, between the two cathedrals they served.