Noel Michael Roy Beasley (born 1968) is a British Church of England bishop and epidemiologist. Since June 2022, he has been the Bishop of Bath and Wells; he was enthroned and started active ministry in that role in November 2022. From May 2015 to June 2022, he was Bishop of Hertford, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of St Albans. From 2003 to 2010, he worked at Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college, first as chaplain and then as a tutor and the college's vice-principal. During this time, he was also an academic of Imperial College London. From 2010 to 2015, he was Director of Mission for the Diocese of Oxford.
Michael Beasley | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bath and Wells | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bath and Wells |
| Elected | 29 June 2022 |
| Installed | 12 November 2022 |
| Other post(s) | Director of Mission, Diocese of Oxford (2010–2015) Bishop of Hertford (2015-2022) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1999 (deacon) 2000 (priest) |
| Consecration | 14 May 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Noel Michael Roy Beasley 1968 (age 55–56) |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Lizzie |
| Children | Two |
| Profession | Epidemiologist |
| Education | Sir Graham Balfour School |
| Alma mater | Imperial College London Oriel College, Oxford Durham University |
Early life and education
editBeasley was born in 1968,[1] and brought up in rural Staffordshire.[2] From 1983 to 1987, he was educated at Sir Graham Balfour School, a state school in Stafford, Staffordshire.[3] He studied at Imperial College London and graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. He then undertook post-graduate study at Oriel College, Oxford, completing his Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in 1996.[1] He later became an epidemiologist specialising in child infectious diseases in low-income countries.[4]
After completing his doctorate, Beasley studied theology at St John's College, Durham. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1998. He then trained for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall, the theological college attached to St John's College, which he completed in 1999.[1] Until 2010, he combined scientific work half time with work as a missioner and theology teacher.[4]
Ordained ministry
editBeasley was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1999 and as a priest in 2000.[1] From 1999 to 2003, he served as an assistant curate at St Nicholas Church, Newport, Shropshire, in the Diocese of Lichfield.[5]
From 2003 to 2007, Beasley was chaplain of Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college. Remaining at Westcott House, he was a tutor in mission and the college's vice-principal from 2007 to 2010.[5] His positions at Westcott House were part-time and he combined these with work at Imperial College London.[6] There, he worked as Director of the Partnership for Child Development in the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.[5][6] One of his projects was a 2008 film titled Courage and Hope: African Teachers Living Positively With HIV which tried to address the stigma of HIV/AIDS in Africa.[7]
In 2010, Beasley was appointed Director of Mission for the Diocese of Oxford.[5] In this position he worked throughout the diocese with churches across the spectrum of Anglican churchmanship.[6] In 2014, he was appointed an honorary canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.[1]
Episcopate
editIn March 2015, it was announced that Beasley would succeed Paul Bayes as Bishop of Hertford, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of St Albans.[5] On 14 May 2015, he was consecrated as a bishop by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at Westminster Abbey.[8] He took up the appointment on 16 May during a service at St Albans Cathedral.[9]
On 28 April 2022, it was announced that Beasley would be the next Bishop of Bath and Wells, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Bath and Wells;[10] his confirmation of election took place at Lambeth Palace on 29 June 2022.[11] At his installation on 12 November at Wells Cathedral, he gifted 1,000 hazel saplings to guests as a sign of working for change, to offer shelter to birds and creatures, and capture carbon.[4]
He took part in the 2023 Coronation as one of the two Bishops Assistant to King Charles III, alongside the Right Reverend Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham.[12]
Views
editBeasley voted in favour of the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples by the Church of England in February 2023, [13] and in November of that year voted to approve "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis.[14]
Personal life
editBeasley is married to Lizzie, a deputy head teacher.[6] They have two children.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Noel Michael Ray Beasley". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ "New Bishop of Bath and Wells announced". Diocese of Bath & Wells. 28 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Former Stafford pupil becomes a bishop". Staffordshire Newsletter. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Hill, Phil (14 November 2022). "Rt Rev Michael Beasley installed as Bishop of Bath & Wells". North Somerset Times. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Suffragan See of Hertford: Canon Noel Michael Roy Beasley". Press release. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Priest and scientist appointed Bishop of Hertford". News. Diocese of St Albans. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "New HIV film tackles stigma faced by teachers in Africa". EurekAlert!. American Association for the Advancement of Science. 3 December 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ "Westcott Episcopal Double!". Westcott House. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ "The Bishop of Hertford". Who's Who. Diocese of St Albans. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ "Bishop of Bath and Wells: 28 April 2022". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ Diocese of Bath & Wells [@BathWells] (29 June 2022). "Bishop Michael Beasley has officially become the 80th Bishop of Bath and Wells..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/how-church-of-england-bishops-voted-same-sex-blessings-during-general-synod
- ^ "General Synod 15th November 2023 – Item 007" (PDF). churchofengland.org. The Church of England. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.