Installed 11 December 2010 Role Bishop of Lynn Nationality British Parents Henry Langstaff | Denomination Anglican Predecessor Michael Nazir-Ali Name James Langstaff Diocese Diocese of Rochester | |
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Other posts Bishop of Lynn (2004–2010) Ordination 1981 (deacon)
1982 (priest) Consecration 21 June 2004
by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury Born 27 June 1956 (age 67) ( 1956-06-27 ) Education St Catherine's College, Oxford | ||
James Henry Langstaff (born 27 June 1956) is a British Anglican bishop. Since December 2010, he has been Bishop of Rochester. From 2004 to 2010, he was Bishop of Lynn, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Norwich.
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Early life
Langstaff was born on 27 June 1956. He was educated at Cheltenham College, a public school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Catherine's College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977; as per tradition, his BA was promoted a Master of Arts (MA (Oxon)) degree in 1981.
In 1978, he entered St John's College, Nottingham, an Anglican theological college in the open evangelical tradition. He studied theology at the University of Nottingham and graduated with a BA degree in 1980. He then remained for a further year at St John's College to study for ordained ministry and completed a Diploma in Pastoral Studies.
Ordained ministry
Langstaff was made a deacon at Petertide 1981 (27 June), by David Brown, Bishop of Guildford, at Guildford Cathedral, and ordained a priest in 1982. He began his ordained ministry with a curacy at St Peter's Farnborough, Hampshire, after which he was Vicar of St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells and St Clement's Church, Nechells. He was the then chaplain to Mark Santer, Bishop of Birmingham, and Area Dean of Sutton Coldfield before his appointment as Bishop of Lynn in 2004. Langstaff was installed as the suffragan Bishop of Lynn on 26 June 2004.
On 22 June 2010, Langstaff's translation to the See of Rochester was announced, where he succeeded Michael Nazir-Ali. He was installed at Rochester Cathedral on 11 December 2010.
In April 2013 Langstaff became one of the patrons of West Kent YMCA, a charity supporting young people in parts of the Rochester diocese, drawing on his interest in social housing and development.
In 2013, Langstaff also became the Bishop to Prisons and in February 2014 became one of the bishops in the House of Lords.
Langstaff is also Chair of the Board for Housing Justice, a national Christian charity which seeks to give voice to the church on issues of housing and homelessness.
Personal life
Langstaff is married to Bridget, with two children.