Stephen Pedley, who served as bishop of Lancaster from 1998 to 2005, has died at age 85. Born in Coventry to Geoffrey, a priest, and Muriel, he attended Marlborough school and later earned a history degree from Queens’ College, Cambridge. He subsequently completed theological training at Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire.
Pedley was ordained to the priesthood in 1966 and began his ministry as a curate at Liverpool parish church. While there, he met Mary Macdonald, a clergyman’s daughter training as a teacher; the couple married in 1970. His early pastoral assignments took him to Holy Trinity Coventry in 1969 and later to Kitwe in Zambia’s copper belt, where he served from 1971 to 1977.
Returning to England, Pedley held positions as vicar at Stockton, rector at Whickham, and residentiary canon at Durham Cathedral between 1977 and 1998. He also served as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II from 1984 onward. His elevation to the episcopate came in 1998 when he assumed the role of bishop of Lancaster, based in Blackburn, where he earned the affection of parishioners as “the people’s bishop.” He retired from this position after seven years and subsequently served as an honorary assistant bishop for the diocese of Newcastle.
Throughout his life, Pedley and his wife extended hospitality at their various residences, including their retirement home at the Blue House in Newbrough, Northumberland. He is survived by Mary, their three children—Mark, Andrew, and Philippa—and six grandchildren.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI