John Goddard (bishop)

Goddard studied theology at St Chad's College, Durham, and graduated from Durham University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1969.[4] He then gained a Diploma in Theology (DipTh).[5]

Goddard was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1970 and as a priest in 1971.[4] He began his ordained ministry as a curate at St John's Southbank [6] before continuing as a curate at Cayton & Eastfield (Scarborough) under the guidance of Alan A. Millar. He then held two incumbencies in Middlesbrough and became the Rural Dean. From 1988 to 1992 he was Vice Principal of Edinburgh Theological College and then Rector of Ribbleton before his ordination to the episcopate.

Goddard was consecrated a bishop on 7 December 2000 by David Hope, Archbishop of York. On 9 December 2000, he was installed as Bishop of Burnley, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Blackburn.[1]

Goddard retired on 19 July 2014.

He has expressed the belief (2012) that there are no totally rural parishes in the Diocese of Blackburn, which includes large swathes of farming communities and extensive rural areas such as the Forest of Bowland. This is because most of the rural areas in the villages have residents whose involvement in commercial, academic, professional and urban matters reflect a more suburban character

At the November 2012 meeting of the General Synod of the Church of England, Goddard was one of the three members of the House of Bishops who voted against the ordination of women as bishops.[7]

Goddard is a keen narrowboater.[8] He is married to Vivienne. Together they have two children; Michael and Gareth.[5]

• The Reverend John Goddard (1971–1987)[5]
• The Reverend Canon John Goddard (1987–2000)
• The Right Reverend John Goddard (2000–present)