Derek Rawcliffe - Revision history

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2026-07-10T13:06:47Z

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	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Clergy]]		[[Category:Clergy]]
	[[Category:1921 births]]		[[Category:1921 births]]
	[[Category:2011 deaths]]		[[Category:2011 deaths]]

Ross Burgess at 12:30, 11 December 2015

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	[[File:Derek Rawcliffe.jpg\|thumb\|Derek Rawcliffe]]'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.		[[File:Derek Rawcliffe.jpg\|thumb\|Derek Rawcliffe]]'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first [[Anglican]] bishop to come out as gay.

	==Career==		==Career==

	Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>		Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at [[Mirfield]], and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>

	In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1991 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].		In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1991 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].
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	:"I had my first relationship when I was 14 with a man 10 years my senior. I knew what I was doing and gave my consent".<ref name=telegraph />		:"I had my first relationship when I was 14 with a man 10 years my senior. I knew what I was doing and gave my consent".<ref name=telegraph />

	These revelations prompted the Bishop of Ripon to stop inviting him to carry out episcopal functions; but the next year it was revealed that he had been carrying out blessings of gay relationships and at this point his licence to act as a bishop was withdrawn.		These revelations prompted the Bishop of [[Ripon]] to stop inviting him to carry out episcopal functions; but the next year it was revealed that he had been carrying out blessings of gay relationships and at this point his licence to act as a bishop was withdrawn.

	Towards the end of his life he published a number of books and poems.		Towards the end of his life he published a number of books and poems.

Ross Burgess at 06:36, 26 February 2014

2014-02-26T06:36:30Z

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	'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.		[[File:Derek Rawcliffe.jpg\|thumb\|Derek Rawcliffe]]'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.

	==Career==		==Career==
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	Towards the end of his life he published a number of books and poems.		Towards the end of his life he published a number of books and poems.

			Derek Rawcliffe was a strong supporter of the [[Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement]], coordinating its Welcome letter writing scheme and the Pen Friend Scheme for many years. He also acted as convenor for the Leeds LGCM group.<ref>http://www.lgcm.org.uk/2011/02/bishop-derek-rawcliffe-1921-2011-a-tribute-from-lgcm/</ref>

	==References==		==References==
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	[[Category:Clergy]]		[[Category:Clergy]]
			[[Category:1921 births]]
	[[Category:2011 deaths]]		[[Category:2011 deaths]]
	~~[[Category:1921 births]]~~
	~~[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]~~

Ross Burgess at 23:50, 30 December 2013

2013-12-30T23:50:19Z

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	'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (~~1921–2011~~) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.		'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.

	==Career==		==Career==
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	[[Category:Clergy]]		[[Category:Clergy]]
	[[Category:2011 deaths]]		[[Category:2011 deaths]]
			[[Category:1921 births]]
			[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]

Ross Burgess at 08:53, 4 October 2013

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	[[Category:Clergy]]		[[Category:Clergy]]
			[[Category:2011 deaths]]

Ross Burgess at 07:48, 5 July 2013

2013-07-05T07:48:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:48, 5 July 2013
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	'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.		'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.

			==Career==

	Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>		Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>

	In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1991 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].		In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1991 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].

			==Relationships and controversy==

	At the age of 50 Rawcliffe had fallen in love with a young Melanesian man and come to believe that his homosexuality was "a gift from God". However he fell in love with a disabled former ballet teacher, Susan Speight; they were married in 1977 and spent 12 happy years together. After her death he realised "I was still gay, always had been".<ref name=telegraph />		At the age of 50 Rawcliffe had fallen in love with a young Melanesian man and come to believe that his homosexuality was "a gift from God". However he fell in love with a disabled former ballet teacher, Susan Speight; they were married in 1977 and spent 12 happy years together. After her death he realised "I was still gay, always had been".<ref name=telegraph />

Ross Burgess at 07:46, 5 July 2013

2013-07-05T07:46:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:46, 5 July 2013
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	Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>		Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>

	In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In ~~1981~~ he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].		In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1991 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].

	At the age of 50 Rawcliffe had fallen in love with a young Melanesian man and come to believe that his homosexuality was "a gift from God". However he fell in love with a disabled former ballet teacher, Susan Speight; they were married in 1977 and spent 12 happy years together. After her death he realised "I was still gay, always had been".<ref name=telegraph />		At the age of 50 Rawcliffe had fallen in love with a young Melanesian man and come to believe that his homosexuality was "a gift from God". However he fell in love with a disabled former ballet teacher, Susan Speight; they were married in 1977 and spent 12 happy years together. After her death he realised "I was still gay, always had been".<ref name=telegraph />

			In 1995 he revealed in a television programme that he was gay. Later that year he wrote to ''Gay Times'' urging that the [[age of consent]] for gay sex should be reduced to 14:
			:"I had my first relationship when I was 14 with a man 10 years my senior. I knew what I was doing and gave my consent".<ref name=telegraph />

			These revelations prompted the Bishop of Ripon to stop inviting him to carry out episcopal functions; but the next year it was revealed that he had been carrying out blessings of gay relationships and at this point his licence to act as a bishop was withdrawn.

			Towards the end of his life he published a number of books and poems.

	==References==		==References==

Ross Burgess: Created page with "'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay. Rawcliffe was born in Manchester but lived in Gloucester as a teenager. He t..."

2013-07-05T07:36:55Z

Created page with "'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay. Rawcliffe was born in Manchester but lived in Gloucester as a teenager. He t..."

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'''Derek Rawcliffe''' (1921–2011) was the first Anglican bishop to come out as gay.

Rawcliffe was born in [[Manchester]] but lived in [[Gloucester]] as a teenager. He trained for the ministry at Mirfield, and took a theology degree in [[Leeds]]. He took up a teaching post in the Solomon Islands in 1947, and spent much of his career in the South Pacific, rising to be the first Bishop of the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/derek-rawcliffe-obituary</ref>

In 1981 he returned to the UK and was appointed Bishop of [[Glasgow]] and [[Galloway]] in the Scottish Episcopal Church, on the basis of reports of his success as a bishop in the south seas, but although his pastoral skills were valued, he was less successful in coping with the administrative problems of the church in Glasgow.<ref name=telegraph>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8321553/The-Right-Reverend-Derek-Rawcliffe.html</ref> In 1981 he retired and went to live in Leeds, and was invited to be an honorary bishop in the diocese of [[Ripon]].

At the age of 50 Rawcliffe had fallen in love with a young Melanesian man and come to believe that his homosexuality was "a gift from God". However he fell in love with a disabled former ballet teacher, Susan Speight; they were married in 1977 and spent 12 happy years together. After her death he realised "I was still gay, always had been".<ref name=telegraph />

==References==
<references>

[[Category:Clergy]]