Lindsay Urwin

Lindsay Goodall Urwin OGS (born 13 March 1956) is an Australian Anglican bishop. Urwin was the area Bishop of Horsham in the Diocese of Chichester, in southern England, from 1993 to 2009, and was also the principal organiser of the annual Caister Conference. He was the Administrator of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham from 2009 to 2015. On 12 April 2015, his appointment was announced as Vicar of Christ Church Brunswick in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Australia. He was inducted on 15 September 2015.[1]

The Right Reverend

Lindsay Urwin

OGS
Vicar of Christ Church Brunswick
Urwin in 2014
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
DioceseMelbourne
Other postsBishop of Horsham (1993-2009)
Administrator of the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (2009-2015)
Orders
Ordination1980 (deacon)
1981 (priest)
Consecration1993
by George Carey
Personal details
Born (1956-03-13) 13 March 1956
Australia
NationalityAustralian
DenominationAnglican
Alma materRipon College Cuddesdon

Early life and family

Urwin was born in Australia and attended Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne.

His sister is Kate Prowd, who also serves as a bishop in the Diocese of Melbourne; they are believed to be the only brother-sister bishops in the entire Anglican Communion.[2]

His brother is Michael Urwin, who was Headmaster of Brighton Grammar School, a prestigious HMC independent school, from 1996 to 2013,[3] and now serves as the Registrar for the Diocese of Melbourne since 2019.[4]

Urwin began theological study at the Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne in 1974, and was an ordination candidate for the Diocese of Melbourne.[5] In 1976 Urwin moved to England where, following a short period living and working in London, he resumed studies in theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon.[6]

Ordained ministry

Urwin was made deacon at Petertide 1980 (29 June)[7] and ordained priest the Petertide following (28 June 1981), both times by Ronnie Bowlby, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral.[8] After being the curate of St Peter's, Walworth (1980–83) he was then the vicar of St Faith's, North Dulwich (1983–88).

Urwin was a diocesan missioner in the Chichester diocese from 1988 to 1993 before being asked by the then Bishop of Chichester, Eric Kemp, to be the Bishop of Horsham in West Sussex in 1993 at the age of 37. He was consecrated a bishop on 30 November 1993, by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey.[9] He became a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd (OGS) in 1991 and served as its United Kingdom provincial (head) from 1996 to 2005. OGS is an international religious society of priests and laymen bound together by a common rule and discipline, including a requirement of celibacy.

On 14 August 2008 it was announced that Urwin had accepted a new appointment as Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.[10] As a result, he tendered his resignation as area Bishop of Horsham on 28 February 2009.[11] He was the administrator of the shrine from early 2009 until early September 2015.

In September 2015 he returned to Australia to become the vicar of Christ Church, Brunswick, in the Diocese of Melbourne. He also serves as the Bishop for Schools in the diocese.

Issues of sexuality

Urwin has stated his personal position on homosexuality as follows:[12]

"I'm a celibate bishop - there is no other option. Whether heterosexual or homosexual or the grey in between, a bishop has no choice. The Church has a right to expect that he will be an example to the flock."
He may have all the compassion in the world for others; be sympathetic, tolerant and respectful to those who feel unable to embrace the Church's teaching, and number them among his dearest friends. In his own mind he may even wonder about the current stand of the Church on marriage or homosexuality, but if he accepts the gift of episcopacy, his personal duty is clear. Whatever the wonderings and wanderings of his former life, for which he must repent, as a bishop he must embrace the discipline of chastity as a gift."

During a discussion about sexuality at a residential bishop's council meeting of the Chichester diocese in 2005, Urwin, who is theologically conservative, spoke passionately against the homophobia he considered was still evident in the church. He made it clear that vacant parishes in his region in search of a new priest could not state a preference for a married priest and that he did not allow prurient questioning of candidates. The key question he said was to be found in the ordinal, 'Will you model your life, and that of your household according to the mind of Christ?' The response, 'I will do so the Lord being my helper' reflected both the candidates best intentions and his or her clear need for grace. He said that he encouraged single clergy not to live alone but to form a household and develop Godly friendships. He also said that he knew the risks and the raised eyebrows this sometimes raised from his own experience as an unmarried priest and bishop. He went on to say that in the experience of many single priests and bishops, some of whom who are of homosexual orientation, the embracing of celibacy either as a spiritual gift or in obedience to what the church asks of them, still does not seem to be enough.'

Beliefs and opinions
Urwin consecrating a new churchyard Tapsel gate in Sussex in 2004.

Urwin has a particular interest in youth ministry and has encouraged people to remember Jesus as an adolescent, "breaking voice, hormones and all".[13] He was co-presenter of the "Youthful Spirit" youth ministry presentation to the 1998 international Lambeth Conference of bishops with David Moxon.

Urwin has argued for tolerance of conservative voices including those who oppose the ordination of women.[14]

Urwin was interviewed by Ali G on the 11 O'Clock Show.[15] He later said that he realised he was being set up before the end of the interview and used it to his advantage.[16]

Urwin has also appeared on an episode of Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, where he was invited to attend dinner at a former chapel- converted restaurant, The Priory in Hayward's Heath (see 29.22). [17]

Awards and qualifications

Publications
  • Youthful Spirit (1999)
  • Credo: a course for the curious (1997)
  • Mission-shaped Youth: Rethinking Young People and Church by Lindsay Urwin, Tim Sudworth, Graham Cray, and Chris Russell (May 2007)

References
  1. "Diocese of Chichester Media Release". Archived from the original on 2015-04-13. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  2. Brolly, Mark (8 October 2018). "Sister joins brother in episcopal ranks in first for Anglican world". The Melbourne Anglican. Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  3. "Gallery of Achievement, Mr Michael Urwin (1971)". Old Camberwell Grammarians' Association. 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  4. Brolly, Mark (15 October 2019). "New man responsible for Synod in no hurry to ring in changes". The Melbourne Anglican. Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. "Bishop Lindsay Urwin OGS to be Next Vicar of Christ Church Brunswick". Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times (#6125). 4 July 1980. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times (#6177). 3 July 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  9. "Briefly". Church Times (#6825). 3 December 1993. p. 2. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  10. Bishop of Horsham to be Administrator at Walsingham. Retrieved on 20 August 2008.
  11. "Suffragan See of Horsham". Number10. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  12. https://archive.today/20130204171331/http://trushare.com/33FEB98/FE98URWI.HTM
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2008-01-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. Youtube video
  15. Youtube video
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-01-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Crockford's Clerical Directory". Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  19. "The College of Guardians". The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

Sources
  • Who's Who (2007 edition)
  • Crockford's Clerical Directory
Church of England titles
Preceded by
John Hind		 Bishop of Horsham
1993–2009		 Succeeded by
Mark Sowerby
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