Peter Burrows

Early life

Burrows was born in Derby to Alfried and Eileen Burrows. He worked as a Nursing Assistant at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary from 1973–1976. From 1976, he was a civil servant, a clerical officer in the Department of Health and Social Security, until 1980, during which year he was awarded his BTh by the University of Southampton (as an external candidate).

Ordained ministry

Burrows then studied for the Anglican ministry at Sarum and Wells Theological College, graduating and being ordained deacon in 1983. He then served his four-year title post as assistant curate at Baildon, one year into which he was ordained a priest. Burrows' first incumbency was as rector at Broughton Astley from 1987, during which time he was also Rural Dean of Guthlaxton First Deanery from 1994. His benefice was expanded in 1993 and he became team rector at Broughton Astley and Croft with Stoney Stanton.

In 1997, he became Director of Ordinands, and in 1998 an honorary Canon of Leicester Cathedral. In 2000, he left his incumbency to become Parish Development Officer in the Diocese of Leicester and in 2002 he became, additionally, Deputy Director of Ministry. In 2003, he vacated all of these roles to become Director of Ministry until 2005. He has also been an Inspector of Theological Colleges and has chaired Vocations and Ministry Committee.

In 2005, Burrows was appointed Archdeacon of Leeds (in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds), where he chaired the Diocesan Ministry and Training Development Group. While in Leeds, he influenced the creation of three new Pioneer posts and an urban "Fresh Expression". He has also been a long-serving member of the General Synod and a Bishops' Adviser for Selection and Training.

Episcopal ministry

10 Downing Street announced on 6 October 2011 that Burrows had been nominated suffragan Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield. He was duly consecrated an Anglican bishop at York Minster on 2 February and welcomed at Sheffield Cathedral on 5 February and at Doncaster Minster on 11 February 2012. Upon Steven Croft's translation from Sheffield to Oxford, Burrows became acting Bishop of Sheffield (episcopal commissary) for the ensuing vacancy.

Safeguarding controversy and CDM complaint

A survivor of child sex abuse made a formal complaint in May 2016 under the Clergy Disciplinary Measure procedure against Burrows and five other bishops (Steven Croft, Martyn Snow, Glyn Webster, Roy Williamson, John Sentamu) for failing to act on his allegations. The survivor said he first told Burrows in 2012 about his abuse by a serving priest. All five bishops dismissed the complaint owing to the one-year time limit imposed by the CDM process.

Personal life

He married Jane Susan Allsop in 1975. The couple now have two adult children: one son, Adam and one daughter, Amie.

Styles

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