Rt Revd John Pritchard
Born in Salford, John Pritchard read jurisprudence at St Peter’s College, Oxford, graduating with a BA degree in 1970, before studying Theology for two years at three years at Oxford and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He took an MLitt in Practical Theology at Durham. He was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1972 and as a priest in 1973. From 1972 to 1976, he served as a curate at St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, and from 1976 to 1980, he was Youth Chaplain and Assistant Director of Education in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. In 1980, John he became priest in charge of Wilton, Taunton. From 1988 he was Director of Pastoral Studies at Cranmer Hall and, from 1993, the college’s warden. In 1996, he became Archdeacon of Canterbury. In 2002, he was consecrated as a bishop, following which he served as Bishop of Jarrow until 2007, when he became Bishop of Oxford. He was lead bishop on Education for the Church of England while in the House of Lords, Chair of SPCK, and served on the Ministry Council and the Board of Church Army. He retired in 2014.
He has written over 20 books on prayer and Christian discipleship including The Intercessions Handbook, How to Pray, How to Explain your Faith, The Life and Work of a Priest, Living Faithfully, God Lost and Found, and Twenty Questions Jesus Asked.
He lives in retirement with his wife Wendy in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
