Installed 1984 Spouse Jean Sutton Successor Jonathan Gledhill Term ended 2003 (retirement) Name Keith Sutton Predecessor Kenneth Skelton | Nationality British Role Bishop of Kingston Consecration 1978 Denomination Anglican Diocese Diocese of Lichfield | |
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Other posts Honorary assistant bishop in
Truro and Exeter (2003–?)
Bishop of Kingston
1978–1984
Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge
1973–1978 Born 23 June 1934 (age 89) ( 1934-06-23 ) Books The People of God: Pictures in a Gallery | ||
Alma mater Jesus College, Cambridge | ||
Keith Norman Sutton (23 June 1934 – 24 March 2017) was the 97th Bishop of Lichfield from 1984 to 2003.
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Early life and education
Sutton grew up in Balham, London and attended Battersea Grammar School. He won a scholarship to Cambridge to read English and switched to Theology. He graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge in 1959. He was a keen runner (National Schoolboy sprint champion) and was a Cambridge Blue at Tennis. Before attending Cambridge University he did his National Service with the British Army where he was commissioned into the Sixth Armoured Division and spent time primarily in Germany.
Ecclesiastical career
He was ordained at Exeter Cathedral and served as a Curate in Plymouth. In July 1985, Sutton was sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury as a special envoy to support Archbishop Desmond Tutu who was facing threats of action by the South African government. He was the Bishop of Kingston from 1978 to 1984, having served as Principal of Ridley Hall from 1973 to 1978. Prior to his time at Ridley Hall he taught at Bishop Tucker Theological College in Mukono, Uganda from 1968-1973 - now part of Uganda Christian University. He was Chaplain of St John's College, Cambridge from 1962-1967. In 1989 he became a member of the General Synod Standing Committee and became President of The Queens College, Birmingham and Governor of St John's College, Durham. He wrote a Lent book The People of God (1983). He retired to Cornwall and served as an honorary assistant bishop in the Dioceses of Truro and of Exeter.
Marriage and family
He was married to (Edith, Mary) Jean Sutton, nee Geldard (deceased September 2000) and has three sons (Mark, Paul and Andrew) and one daughter (Jacqui) and has eight grandchildren.