James Grier (bishop)

James Grier (born 1974[1]) is an English Anglican bishop. He currently serves as Bishop of Plymouth.[2]

The Right Reverend

James Grier
Bishop of Plymouth
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Exeter
In office2022-
PredecessorNick McKinnel
Orders
Ordination1998
Consecration29 September 2022
by Justin Welby
Personal details
Born1974 (age 48–49)
Plymouth, Devon, England
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
SpouseLiz
Children2
Alma materSt Peter's College, Oxford

Early life

James Grier was born in 1974, to Sara and John Grier. His father was an NHS GP,[3] and his mother was a nurse who went on to become President of Plymouth Age Concern.[4] He grew-up in the suburb of Tamerton Foliot, helping at the local church as an altar server. He attended the youth group at the minster church of St Andrew’s before helping start a youth group at his home church, St Mary’s, Tamerton Foliot.[1]

He studied theology at St Peter's College, Oxford graduating Bachelor of Arts (BA):[5] this was later promoted to Master of Arts (MA) as per tradition. He then trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an evangelical theological college,[6] after working as lay-assistant at St Aldate's Church for a year.

Ordained ministry

Grier was ordained in the Church of England in 1998.[6] He served his curacy in the Diocese of Oxford at St Andrew's Church. James served as Associate Vicar[5] at St John the Baptist, Harborne Heath, in the Diocese of Birmingham from 2002. He was appointed Team Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Pinhoe in the Diocese of Exeter in 2007, also serving as Diocesan Youth Advisor. As Youth Advisor, he established Unlimited Church, which became a Bishop’s Mission Order in 2012. In 2019, James took up the role of Diocesan Mission Enabler. From 2020 to 2022, he was also a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral.[7]

Episcopal ministry

It was announced on 6 July 2022 that James Grier would be the next Bishop of Plymouth.[1] On 29 September 2022, he was consecrated as the eleventh Bishop of Plymouth by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey, the first new bishop to swear an oath of allegiance to King Charles III.[8][9]

Views

In 2023, in a pastoral letter from the bishops of the Diocese of Exeter (including Grier), it was stated that they welcome "the proposed prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and God's blessing for same sex couples": this was in reaction to the Living in Love and Faith process that concluded with the suggestion that the Church of England would introduce a service of blessing for same sex couples.[10]

Personal life

He is married to Dr Liz Grier, an academic and musician, who is currently curate at St Mellitus College Plymouth.[11] They have two sons.[1][5]

Styles

References
  1. Axford, Chloe (6 July 2022). "New Bishop of Plymouth is Coming Home". Diocese of Exeter. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. "Queen Elizabeth II: People 'need to grieve', Plymouth bishop says". BBC News. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  3. Staff, Editorial (30 July 2017). "DR. JP GRIER - General Practitioner in ST JUDES, PLYMOUTH contact phone, opening hours, address". General Practitioners in UK. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. Axford, Chloe (6 July 2022). "New Bishop of Plymouth is Coming Home". Diocese of Exeter. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. "New Bishop of Plymouth enters city on landing craft". BBC News. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  6. "The Rt Revd James Emerson GRIER". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  7. "Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Plymouth: 6 July 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  8. "Bishop of Plymouth 'overwhelmed' after consecration at Westminster Abbey". BBC News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. Axford, Chloe (29 September 2022). "Plymouth's New Bishop James Consecrated at Westminster Abbey". Diocese of Exeter. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  10. Axford, Chloe (20 January 2023). "Bishops Respond to Living in Love and Faith Proposals". Diocese of Exeter. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. "Revd Dr Liz Grier". St Mellitus. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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