In office 2006–present Role Bishop of Birmingham Consecration 2000 Name David Urquhart Ordination 1984 | Denomination Anglican Predecessor John Sentamu Nationality British (Scottish) Education Rugby School | |
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Other posts Bishop of Birkenhead (2000–2006)
Convenor of the Lords Spiritual (18 May 2015–present) Born 14 April 1952 (age 71)
Scotland, UK ( 1952-04-14 ) Residence Bishop's Croft, Harborne Profession formerly commercial management Diocese Anglican Diocese of Birmingham | ||
David Andrew Urquhart (born 14 April 1952) is the ninth Bishop of Birmingham.
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Education
Urquhart was educated at Croftinloan School, near Pitlochry, at Rugby School and at Ealing Technical College Business School (Bachelor of Arts {BA}, 1977). After a career in commercial management with British Petroleum, he studied for the ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
Church career
He was ordained a deacon at Petertide 1984 (1 July), by John Habgood, Archbishop of York, at York Minster, and a priest the next year, and served in Hull before becoming the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Coventry in 1992; for his last year in Coventry, he was an honorary canon of the cathedral. He was appointed suffragan Bishop of Birkenhead in the Diocese of Chester in 2000. Urquhart acts as the Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy to China and accompanied him on a visit to China in October 2006. Urquhart was appointed Prelate of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2005 and holds the Freedom of the Borough of Wirral. He is unmarried.
His appointment as Bishop of Birmingham was announced in 2006 and he was enthroned on 17 November 2006, succeeding John Sentamu after Sentamu's appointment as Archbishop of York. Around 800 people attended his enthronement in Birmingham Cathedral. Urquhart was introduced as a Lord Spiritual to the House of Lords on 26 October 2010. He became the Convenor of the Lords Spiritual on 18 May 2015.
Inauguration
At his enthronement Urquhart was presented with a cope which incorporated various images related to his life and the city of Birmingham. These included a bagpiper, signifying his birth and upbringing in Scotland, a motorcycle which represents one of his hobbies and the emblems of Aston Villa and Birmingham City FC, the two most prominent football teams from the city. The cope also features a passage from the Bible, which reads "You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets to dwell in." (Isaiah 58:12). The passage was written in English, Mandarin, Hebrew and Gandan. During the ceremony in Birmingham Cathedral, Urquhart smashed a large clay pot with a mallet to signify the fragility of human life and our world.
In a message to his new diocese shortly after his enthronement, Urquhart thanked the people of Birmingham for the warm welcome he had received. He cited his desire for the diocese to engage in "worship, making disciples and prophetic witness".
Poverty
Urquhart has worked successfully with representatives of several political parties in who lead Birmingham City Council, in an effort to fight poverty and social exclusion.
Inequality and social exclusion is something that we should not easily accept in a rich country and a city like ours. Our aim is to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and the powerful, so that more people can participate in the economic and social opportunities at work, home and play.