Kenneth Stevenson

Kenneth William Stevenson (9 November 1949 – 12 January 2011[1]) was the eighth Bishop of Portsmouth in the Church of England.[2]

The Right Reverend

Kenneth Stevenson
Bishop of Portsmouth
Kenneth Stevenson by Celia Glover
DiocesePortsmouth
In office1995–September 2009
PredecessorTimothy Bavin
SuccessorChristopher Foster
Other postsChaplain, lecturer, University of Manchester (until 1995)
Orders
Consecration1995
Personal details
Born(1949-11-09)9 November 1949
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Died12 January 2011(2011-01-12) (aged 61)[1]
NationalityBritish (Scottish)
DenominationAnglican
SpouseSarah Julia Mary Glover
ChildrenElisabeth, Katharine (Kitty), James, Alexandra
ProfessionAcademic (liturgy)
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh

Life

Stevenson was born in Edinburgh on 19 November 1949.[3] He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and the University of Edinburgh, taking his MA in 1970.[3]

Stevenson was consecrated as Bishop of Portsmouth in 1995, following parish work in Lincoln,[4] Guildford,[5] and in the university chaplaincy at the University of Manchester.[6] He was married, with four children.[7]

Stevenson held a PhD from the University of Southampton and a DD from the University of Manchester where he lectured in liturgy alongside his work as a chaplain. He was involved in the Church of England's participation in the Porvoo Communion, not least because he was part-Danish. He was a Knight Commander of the Kingdom of Denmark's Order of the Dannebrog. In 2006, having been diagnosed with leukemia, he began a course of treatment. On 22 February 2009 he announced at a service at Portsmouth Cathedral that he would retire in September 2009 due to continuing ill-health. He presided at his last confirmation service on 19 July 2009 at St Peter's Church Seaview, Isle of Wight.

"There is a sadness in the decision but I know that it is the right one. I did wrestle with it and it has proved to be the most difficult decision of my life. I have loved being your Bishop and have never wanted to be Bishop of anywhere else"[8]

In retirement, Stevenson continued to write[9] and give his support to fund-raising activities for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, e.g. through musical events[10] and the artistic work of his daughter Alexandra.[11]

He had two brothers-in-law who were also bishops: David Tustin and Peter Forster.[12] Both assisted at his funeral at Portsmouth Cathedral on 26 January 2011,[13] along with his great friend Patricia Routledge.[14]

Works

The Catholic Apostolic Eucharist, PhD-thesis, Southampton University, 1975 [15]

The Lord's Prayer; A Text in Tradition, 2004.[16]

References
  1. "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - Bishop Kenneth Stevenson RIP". www.portsmouth.anglican.org.
  2. Office, Anglican Communion. "Page not found | Anglican Communion". Anglican Communion Website. Cite uses generic title (help)
  3. "The Right Reverend Kenneth Stevenson". 1 February 2011 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  4. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
  5. "Brief biography". Archived from the original on 31 March 2009.
  6. Crockford's Clerical Directory2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
  7. Debrett's People of Today London,2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
  8. "Anglican Bishop retiring early as he fights illness"- article by David Hurley in The News dated February 23, 2009.
  9. Times Online, Birthdays: Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Times Online, November 2009
  10. A Michaelmas Medley Archived 17 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Music for Leukaemia Research, Holy Trinity Sloane Square, 25 September 2009.
  11. British Antiques Dealers Association Charity Gala Evening , 18 March 2010
  12. Who's Who (ibid): Stevenson and Tustin married two sisters; while Forster married Stevenson's sister
  13. "Bishop's funeral details". www.portsmouth.co.uk.
  14. "Portsmouth Today 26-1-11".
  15. Tim Grass, The Lord's Work: A History of the Catholic Apostolic Church, p. 335
  16. VanderKam, James C.; Adler, William (7 December 1996). The Jewish Apocalyptic Heritage in Early Christianity, Volume 4. Fortress Press. ISBN 9781451403091 – via Google Books.
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