John Michael Wraw (4 February 1959 – 25 July 2017) was a British Anglican bishop. He served as the Bishop of Bradwell, an area bishop in the Church of England Diocese of Chelmsford, from 2012 until his death in post in July 2017.[1]
John Wraw | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bradwell | |
_(John_Wraw_cropped).jpg) Wraw in 2014 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chelmsford |
| In office | 2012–2017 |
| Predecessor | Laurie Green |
| Successor | John Perumbalath |
| Other post(s) | Archdeacon of Wilts (2004–2012) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 June 1985 (deacon) by John Eastaugh 29 June 1986 (priest) by Mark Wood |
| Consecration | 25 January 2012 by Rowan Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1959 |
| Died | 25 July 2017 (aged 58) Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse |
Gillian (m. 1981) |
| Children | four |
Early life and education
editWraw was born on 4 February 1959 in Hampshire, UK.[2][3] He studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford and then trained for the Anglican ministry at Fitzwilliam College and Ridley Hall in Cambridge.[4]
Ordained ministry
editWraw was ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1985 (30 June) by John Eastaugh, Bishop of Hereford,[5] and as a priest the Petertide following (29 June 1986) by Mark Wood, Bishop of Ludlow — both times at Hereford Cathedral.[6] His first pastoral appointment was as a curate at Bromyard, Herefordshire. He then moved to South Yorkshire as the Team Vicar of Sheffield Manor (1988–1992), Vicar of St James' Church, Clifton[7] (1992–2001) and Priest-in-Charge of Wickersley (2001–2004). While at Wickersley, he was chair of the Diocesan Faith and Justice Committee and served as chair of Voluntary Action Rotherham. Also during that period, he was Area Dean of Rotherham (1998–2004) and an honorary canon of Sheffield Cathedral (2001–2004). From 2004, he was the Archdeacon of Wilts and has been the chair of the Wiltshire Local Strategic Partnership.[4]
Episcopal ministry
editWraw's nomination to become the suffragan Bishop of Bradwell was announced on 26 July 2011, in succession to Laurie Green who resigned on 28 February 2011.[4] On 25 January 2012, he was consecrated a bishop by Rowan Williams, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.[8][3] He was installed as Bishop of Bradwell by Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, during a service at Chelmsford Cathedral on 29 January 2012.[9][3]
In February 2017, with his cancer becoming terminal, he announced his plans to continue his full-time episcopal ministry until Easter and then move onto a lighter schedule until his health no longer allowed him to continue.[10]
Views
editWraw supported the ordination of women as deacons, priests, and bishops.[10] In February 2017, he announced his support for same-sex marriage, calling for the "proper recognition through prayers, blessing, celebration and affirmation of all that is good and wholesome in a wide variety of relationships including stable, faithful, committed and God given same sex relationships".[10]
Personal life
editWraw married Gillian in 1981 and they had four children;[2] his interests included the theatre and walking, and he was also a crew member in the 2009–2010 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.[4]
Health and death
editIn June 2014, Wraw announced that he had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and was about to undergo intense chemotherapy treatments.[11] He later took a temporary hiatus from his duties in order to concentrate on his treatment.[12] Almost a year after his diagnosis, Wraw announced that his myeloma was in remission after he underwent a stem cell transplant, and that he would be fully resuming his duties as bishop.[13]
In February 2017, Wraw announced that his cancer was no longer treatable and he was receiving palliative care.[10] He continued his ministry until his health no longer permitted him.[10]
Wraw died (still in post) in his sleep at his home in Essex in the early hours of 25 July 2017.[3] His funeral Eucharist was held at Chelmsford Cathedral on 7 August.[14]
Styles
editFor further information on forms of address ("styles") traditionally given to clergy of the Church of England, see Crockford's Clerical Directory and forms of address in the United Kingdom.
Regardless of their formal style(s), a person may choose which styles to use or not use.
- The Reverend John Wraw (1985–2001)
- The Reverend Canon John Wraw (2001–2004)
- The Venerable John Wraw (2004–2012)
- The Right Reverend John Wraw (2012–2017)
References
edit- ^ 'The Rt Rev John Wraw-Bishop who called on the Church to reassess its priorities' Daily Telegraph p25: Issue no 50,488 dated Tuesday 1 August 2017
- ^ a b "Wraw, John Michael". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 26 July 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)Who's Who – BRADWELL, Area Bishop of
- ^ a b c d "A Tribute to the Life of Bishop John Wraw". Diocese of Chelmsford. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Suffragan Bishop of Bradwell". Number10. 26 July 2011.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6386. 5 July 1985. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6438. 4 July 1986. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 26 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ St James, Clifton. A Church Near You. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ Chelmsford Diocese – The Month, December 2011 Archived 2011-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. chelmsford.anglican.org. Retrieved on 7 January 2012.
- ^ "New Bishop of Bradwell says God's mission has no limit" (Press release). Diocese of Chelmsford. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
It is anticipated that John will start his ministry as bishop early in 2012
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop John writes moving letter to clergy". Diocese of Chelmsford. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- ^ https://audioboo.fm/boos/2252981-bishop-of-bradwell-john-wraw-reveals-to-bbc-essex-sunday-breakfast-he-has-cancer.html [dead link]
- ^ "Bishop of Bradwell John Wraw to step down till Easter to have more treatment for myeloma".
- ^ "Bishop of Bradwell John Wraw's Cancer in Remission".
- ^ "Funeral Eucharist for Bishop John Wraw". St.Mary with St. Leonard The Parish church of Broomfield. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.