Geoffrey Rowell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend Geoffrey Rowell |
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| Bishop in Europe | |
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| Diocese | Diocese in Europe |
| In Office | 2001–2013 |
| Predecessor | John Hind |
| Successor | Robert Innes |
| Other posts | Bishop of Basingstoke (1994–2001) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | Deacon 1968 Priest 1969 |
| Consecration | 2 February 1994 by George Carey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 February 1943 |
| Died | 11 June 2017 (aged 74) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Cambridge |
Douglas Geoffrey Rowell (born February 13, 1943 – died June 11, 2017) was an Anglican bishop. He held important roles in the Church of England. He served as the Bishop of Basingstoke and later as the third Bishop in Europe.
Bishop Rowell retired from his role as Bishop in Europe on November 8, 2013. After retiring, he continued to serve as an assistant bishop. He helped in the Diocese of Chichester and the Diocese of Portsmouth. He passed away in 2017.
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Education and Learning
Geoffrey Rowell went to school at Winchester College. He then studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He earned several degrees from Cambridge University. These included a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA). He also received a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Later, he earned another Master of Arts and a PhD from Oxford University. In 1997, Oxford University gave him a special degree called a Doctor of Divinity (DD). This showed his deep knowledge in religious studies.
His Career as a Bishop
Geoffrey Rowell spent most of his career in academic and church leadership roles. He did not work as a local parish priest. After becoming a priest, he taught at Oxford University. He was also an assistant chaplain at New College.
From 1972 to 1994, he served as the chaplain of Keble College. A chaplain is like a spiritual guide or minister for a college.
In 1994, Geoffrey Rowell became a bishop. He was consecrated (made a bishop) by George Carey, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time. This ceremony took place at St Paul's Cathedral. He became the Bishop of Basingstoke. This was a supporting bishop role in the Diocese of Winchester.
In 2001, Bishop Rowell took on a new and very important role. He became the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe. This role is often simply called the "Bishop in Europe." He officially started this role on October 18, 2001. His main church, or "cathedral," for this role was the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar.
His Beliefs and Views
Bishop Rowell was known for his traditional views within the Church of England. He was part of the Anglo-Catholic group. This group emphasizes the Catholic traditions within Anglicanism.
In 2012, there was a big discussion in the Church of England. This was about allowing women to become bishops. Bishop Rowell was one of only three bishops who voted against the ordination of women as bishops.
Key Roles in His Life
Here are some of the important positions Geoffrey Rowell held:
- Became a priest in the Church of England in 1969.
- Served as Chaplain of Keble College, Oxford from 1971 to 1994.
- Was a Canon of Chichester Cathedral from 1981 to 2001. A canon is a special priest linked to a cathedral.
- Served as the Bishop of Basingstoke from 1994 to 2001.
- Became the Bishop in Europe from 2001 until his retirement in 2013.
His Writings
Geoffrey Rowell was also a writer. He wrote many books and articles about the history of the Anglo-Catholic church. He was also the first president of the Anglo Catholic History Society. He wrote or helped write several books, including:
- Love's Redeeming Work: The Anglican Quest for Holiness (2003)
- The Vision Glorious: Themes and Personalities of the Catholic Revival in Anglicanism (1991)
- Come, Lord Jesus!: Daily Readings for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany (2003)
He also helped edit books that were collections of essays, such as:
- Confession and Absolution (1990)
- The Oil of Gladness - Anointing in the Christian tradition (1993)
