Kenneth Riches

Kenneth Riches (20 September 1908 – 15 May 1999) was an Anglican Bishop during the second half of the 20th century. He served as the Bishop of Dorchester from 1952 to 1957, and as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1957 to 1974. He was also the Principal of Cuddesdon College, an Anglo-Catholic theological college, between 1945 and 1952.

The Right Reverend

Kenneth Riches
Bishop of Lincoln
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Lincoln
In office1957 to 1974
PredecessorMaurice Harland
SuccessorSimon Phipps
Other postsBishop of Dorchester (1952–1957)
Principal of Cuddesdon College (1945–1952)
Orders
Ordination1932 (deacon)
1933 (priest)
Consecration1952
Personal details
Born(1908-09-20)20 September 1908
Died15 May 1999(1999-05-15) (aged 90)
NationalityEnglish
DenominationAnglicanism
EducationColchester Royal Grammar School
Alma materCorpus Christi College, Cambridge
Cuddesdon College

Early life and education

Riches was born on 20 September 1908.[1] He was educated at Colchester Royal Grammar School, a state grammar school in Colchester, Essex.[2] He studied theology at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, graduating with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1931.[3][4] As per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) in 1935.[3] He then trained for Holy Orders at Cuddesdon College, an Anglo-Catholic theological college near Oxford.[3]

Ordained ministry

Riches was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1932 and as a priest in 1933.[3] From 1932 to 1935, he served his curacy at St Mary's Church, Portsea.[5] From 1935 to 1936, he was an assistant curate at St John the Evangelist, East Dulwich in the Diocese of Southwark.[1][3] Then, from 1936 to 1942, he served as chaplain and librarian of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.[1][6] On 2 September 1939, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains' Department as a Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (equivalent in rank to captain).[7] From 1942 to 1945, he was Rector of Bredfield with Boulge in the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and the Director of Service Ordination Candidates.[1][8]

In 1945, Riches was appointed Principal of Cuddesdon College, an Anglo-Catholic theological college near Oxford, and Vicar of All Saints Church, Cuddesdon.[1][4]

Episcopal ministry

In 1952, he was consecrated a bishop and appointed as Bishop of Dorchester, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Oxford.[9] In 1956, he was translated to the Bishopric of Lincoln.[10]

While Bishop of Lincoln he failed to act on allegations of child abuse. He was informed in 1969 about abuse committed by Roy Griffiths, then deputy head teacher and boarding master of Lincoln Cathedral School, but did not act. He was informed of further allegations in 1970, but neither the Diocese nor the school informed the police. Griffiths was allowed to leave and take up a job at an Anglican school in Papua New Guinea.[11] In 2018, Griffiths was convicted of abusing six boys at the school between 1963 and 1970, following an investigation into historical sexual abuse in the Diocese.[12]

Views

Riches supported closer links between Anglicans and Methodists.[4] He was a supporter of the ordination of women.[4] He belonged to the Catholic tradition of the Church of England.[8]

References
  1. "RICHES, Rt Rev. Kenneth". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  2. "Who was Who" 1897-2007. London: A & C Black. 2007. ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7.
  3. "Kenneth Riches". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  4. Webster, Alan (18 May 1999). "Obituary: The Right Rev Kenneth Riches". The Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  5. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76. London: Oxford University Press. 1976. ISBN 0-19-200008-X.
  6. "University News New Chaplain for Sidney Sussex". The Times (47437). 27 July 1936. p. 14, col D.
  7. "No. 34695". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 September 1939. p. 6565.
  8. Laurence, Christopher (27 May 1999). "Kenneth Riches". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. "Two Bishops Appointed- Dorchester and Egypt". The Times (52348). 26 June 1952. p. 8, col E.
  10. "Bishop Of Lincoln Right Rev. K. Riches Nominated (Official Appointments and Notices)". The Times (53604). 8 August 1956. p. 8 col D.
  11. Corbin, Jane (29 April 2019). "Bishops 'failed to act' on alleged abuse". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  12. "Church school deputy head jailed for abuse". BBC News. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Gerald Allen		 Bishop of Dorchester
1952– 1957		 Succeeded by
David Loveday
Preceded by
Maurice Harland		 Bishop of Lincoln
1957 – 1974		 Succeeded by
Simon Phipps
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