Name Martin Dudley Role Author | ||
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Books Churchwardens: A Survival Guide, The Oil of Gladness, Serving the Parish, Parish Survival Guide, Crowning the Year | ||
Martin Raymond Dudley, (born 31 May 1953) is an Anglican priest, City of London common councilman and author of various books about the Christian Church.
Contents
- Early life and education
- Ordained ministry
- Civil partnership blessing controversy
- Other work
- Personal life
- Honours
- Publications
- Style
- References
Until 31 December 2016, Dudley was incumbent of the combined benefices of St Bartholomew in the City of London, known as the Parish of Great St Bartholomew, having been Rector of St Bartholomew the Great since 1995 and priest in charge of St Bartholomew the Less since 2012.
Early life and education
Dudley was born in Birmingham where he attended King Edward’s School. After a year training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he returned to the Midlands to work for a travel company.
In 1974, Dudley studied religion at King's College London, graduating with Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees. He studied for the priesthood at St Michael's College, Llandaff.
Dudley received a PhD from the University of London (King's College, London) in 1994, and pursued further studies in voluntary sector management at the Cass Business School, being awarded MSc (City University) in 2006.
Ordained ministry
Dudley was ordained as a deacon in 1979 and a priest in 1980 at Llandaff Cathedral. After a curacy in Whitchurch, Cardiff, he became vicar of Weston, Hertfordshire in 1983 before being appointed vicar of Owlsmoor, Berkshire (1988–95), where he oversaw the building of a new parish church. On 9 September 1995, he became Rector of St Bartholomew the Great in the Diocese of London. In 2012, he also became priest in charge of St Bartholomew the Less. On 1 June 2015, the two parishes were dissolved and replaced with a united benefice, the Parish of Great St Bartholomew. The parish boundary incorporated precisely the two former parishes. Dudley continued as Rector of the new parish.
On 31 December 2016, Dudley retired from full-time ministry and stepped down as Rector of Great St Bartholomew. He plans to become an "active priest who is also an independent scholar and writer".
Civil partnership blessing controversy
Dudley made news in 2008 when he blessed the civil partnership of two Anglican priests, for which he received a public rebuke from Richard Chartres, Bishop of London. This was, in fact, the second such blessing he had performed, the first being for a member of the congregation of St Bartholomew the Great and his civil partner. In Riazat Butt’s Guardian profile, the late Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, said that "he [Dudley] is very bright. He is a very consistent person in that he knows his own mind and doesn't mind if everyone else disagrees with him. He is very intelligent and prepared to take a stand for something he believes in, even if it's not going with the mainstream." Dudley justified his actions in an article in the New Statesman magazine.
Other work
Dudley was elected to the City Court of Common Council representing Aldersgate Ward in January 2002. He serves on various City of London Corporation committees as well as being a governor of the Museum of London and a member of the Trust for London (formerly the City Parochial Foundation).
Personal life
Dudley married Paula Jones, a chiropodist, in 1976; they have two sons.
Honours
In 1996, Dudley was granted the Freedom of the City of London. On 23 October 1997, he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA). He is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS). He is a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers.