Christopher Foster (bishop)

Christopher Richard James Foster (born 7 November 1953) is an Anglican bishop. He is the current Bishop of Portsmouth in the Church of England.

The Right Reverend

Christopher Foster
Bishop of Portsmouth
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Portsmouth
In office2010–present
PredecessorKenneth Stevenson
Other postsBishop of Hertford (2001–2010)
Orders
Ordination1981
Consecration21 October 2001
by George Carey
Personal details
Born (1953-11-07) 7 November 1953
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
ResidenceBishopsgrove, Fareham
Spouse
    Julia Marie née Jones
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1982; died 2001)​
      Sally Elizabeth née Davenport
      ​
      ​
      (m. 2006)​
      [1]
      Childrentwo (with Julia)[2]
      Alma materDurham University

      Early life

      Foster was born on 7 November 1953. He was educated at Durham University[3] where he held the position of Chapel Clerk at University College. He studied for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge.

      Career

      Foster was made a deacon on St Peter's Day (29 June) 1980[4] and ordained a priest the following Petertide (28 June 1981) – both times by Kenneth Skelton, Bishop of Lichfield, at Lichfield Cathedral[5] – and began his ordained ministry with a curacy in Tettenhall Regis in Wolverhampton, after which he became chaplain of Wadham College, Oxford. Following this he was vicar of Christ Church Southgate[6] and finally a canon residentiary and sub-dean at St Albans Cathedral.

      On 21 October 2001, he was consecrated a bishop by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Southwark Cathedral,[7] to serve the Diocese of St Albans as suffragan Bishop of Hertford.[2] In February 2010, it was announced that Foster would be the new Bishop of Portsmouth.[1][8] He was enthroned on 18 September 2010.

      On 13 December 2020, he announced that he would be retiring as Bishop of Portsmouth from April 2021.[9]

      Views

      Welfare reform

      Foster has spoken out against the Conservative government's changes to the welfare state and austerity measures. In October 2015, he called proposed cuts to tax credits "morally indefensible":

      It's clear to me and many others that these proposals blatantly threaten damage to the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. This must not be the way to achieve the Government's goal at a cost to those, who if we believe the rhetoric, the Government intends to encourage and support. To many in my diocese and beyond this seems punishing rather than encouragement.[10]

      Personal life

      Foster's first wife died in 2001; they have two adult children.[2] He married his second wife, Sally, in 2006.[1][11]

      Styles

      References
      1. Official notification of appointment as Bishop of Portsmouth
      2. Official notification of appointment as Bishop of Hertford
      3. "Foster, Christopher Richard James". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 10 June 2017. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
      4. "Ordinations". Church Times (#6126). 11 July 1980. p. 2. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
      5. "Ordinations". Church Times (#6179). 17 July 1981. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 8 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
      6. Church website
      7. "News (in brief): Say what you really think, two new bishops told". Church Times (#7236). 26 October 2001. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 11 October 2015 – via UK Press Online archives.
      8. "New bishop for south-east Hampshire". Hampshire Chronicle. Winchester, Hampshire. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
      9. https://www.portsmouth.anglican.org/news/2020/12/13/bishop-christopher-announces-his-retirement/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
      10. The Independent (London) 27/10/2015 Tax credits: House of Lords votes to delay cuts by three years
      11. Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
      Church of England titles
      Preceded by
      Robin Smith      		 Bishop of Hertford
      2001–2010      		 Succeeded by
      Paul Bayes
      Preceded by
      Kenneth Stevenson      		 Bishop of Portsmouth
      2010—present      		 Incumbent


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