Graham James (bishop)

James was born in Bideford, Devon, the son of a priest Lionel James and his wife Florence. He was educated at Northampton Grammar School, the University of Lancaster, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1972, the University of Oxford, where he received a diploma in theology in 1974 and Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford.

James was ordained deacon at Michaelmas 1975 (21 September)[1] and priest the next Michaelmas (26 September 1976), both times by Douglas Feaver, Bishop of Peterborough, at Peterborough Cathedral.[2] He was assistant curate of Christ the Carpenter Church, Dogsthorpe[3] from 1975 to 1978. From there he moved to Christ the King, Digswell, from 1979 to 1983, became a member of the Advisory Council for the Church's Ministry in 1983 and held this post until 1987. Between 1983 and 1985, he was Selection Secretary and Secretary for Continuing Education and between 1985 and 1987 Senior Selection Secretary. He was Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1987 to 1993.

In 2011 James became a member of the Lords Select Committee on Communications, and he was subsequently appointed spokesman for the Church of England on media issues. In 2019, he chaired the independent inquiry into the malpractice by surgeon Ian Paterson.[8][9]

James has been married to Julie Anne Freemantle since 1978. They have two surviving children; another died in infancy.[10]

• The Reverend Graham James (1975–1993)
• The Right Reverend Graham James (1993–2019)

• "DodOnline entry for the Bishop". Dod. Archived from the original on 2006-12-07. Retrieved 2006-11-25.