Bishop to Receive Honorary Doctorate for 'Outstanding Contribution'

The Bishop of Lichfield is to receive an honorary doctorate from Keele University in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to the church and to the people and the county of Staffordshire".

The award of Doctorate of the University is one of five honorary degrees being presented at this summer's graduation ceremonies to a number of people who have made outstanding contributions within their fields of expertise.

They range from significant work over many years in the church, broadcasting and political journalism, geology and English Literature.

Bishop Jonathan Gledhill was educated at Keele and Bristol Universities and trained for the ministry at Trinity College, Bristol. He was curate at Marple All Saints, Chester from 1975 to 1978 and from 1978 to 1983 was priest in charge of St George's Folkestone.

From 1983 to 1996 he was Vicar at St Mary Bredin, Canterbury and Tutor at the Canterbury School of Ministry. From 1988 to 1994 he was also Rural Dean at Canterbury, and from 1992 to 1996 an Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral.

From 1995 to 1996 he was a Member of the General Synod and from 1996 to 2003 he was Suffragan Bishop of Southampton before being appointed Bishop of Lichfield.

Since 1997 he has chaired the Anglican/Old Catholic International Co-ordinating Council, and been chair of the Governing Body of the National College of Evangelists. He has published "Leading a Local Church in the Age of the Spirit".

Describing his churchmanship, Bishop Geldhill said: "I was brought up a High Anglican, went to a liberal Catholic church where I was an altar server. At Keele Christian Union I came across some oddfish who challenged me to read the New Testament afresh. While at Keele I had a charismatic experience and I went on to a conservative evangelical theological college to discover more about the Bible. I am on a continual pilgrimage."

The four other recipients of honorary degrees from the University are Professor Geoffrey Boulton, an internationally renowned geologist; Martha Kearney, the broadcaster and presenter of BBC Radio 4's The World At One; Professor Claude Rawson, Maynard Mack Professor of English at Yale University; and John Woodcock, the former Chairman of Pochin's plc.

The honorary degrees will be presented at ceremonies on 3 and 4 July 2007.