John Saxbee

The Rt Revd John Saxbee
Bishop of Lincoln
Diocese	Diocese of Lincoln
Installed	23 March 2002
Term ended	31 January 2011 (retirement)
Predecessor	Robert Hardy
Successor	Christopher Lowson
Other posts	Bishop of Ludlow (1994–2002)
Orders
Ordination	1972 (deacon) 1973 (priest)
Consecration	1994
Personal details
Born	(1946-01-07) 7 January 1946 Bristol
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Jackie Saxbee
Children	1 daughter, Helen Saxbee
Alma mater	University of Bristol St John's College, Durham

John Charles Saxbee (born 7 January 1946) is a retired Anglican bishop. He was the 71st Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England between 23 March 2002 and 31 January 2011. He was introduced to the House of Lords as a new Lord Spiritual on 1 July 2008 together with former Director-General of MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller.

Education, ordination and career

Bristol-born, Saxbee was educated at the University of Bristol where he obtained a BA degree in 1968. He subsequently went on to complete his PhD degree at St John's College, Durham in 1974. He trained for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall in Durham and was ordained in Exeter Cathedral as a deacon in 1972 and a priest in 1973. From 1972 he was curate at Compton Gifford in the Diocese of Exeter before moving to Weston Mill in the same diocese as priest-in-charge in 1977. He later became Vicar of Weston Mill before moving to become Team Vicar of Central Exeter Team Ministry in 1981; a post he held until 1987. He was Joint Director of the South West Ministerial Training Course between 1981 and 1992 and was a member of the General Synod's House of Clergy between 1985 and 1994.

He became a prebendary at Exeter Cathedral in 1988 until his appointment as Archdeacon of Ludlow and a prebendary of Hereford Cathedral in 1992. Between 1992 and 1994 he was also priest-in-charge of Wistanstow and Acton Scott. He was appointed Suffragan Bishop of Ludlow in 1994 whilst remaining Archdeacon of Ludlow. He relinquished both posts when he took up his role as Bishop of Lincoln in 2002, his appointment having been announced on 4 September 2001. Saxbee is also an academic writer having published Liberal Evangelism: a flexible response to the decade in 1994.

Saxbee has expressed concerns about the divisive nature of the proposed Anglican Covenant, speaking at the November 2010 General Synod he said, "the Anglican Communion doesn't need a Covenant because Anglicanism is a covenant."

Personal life

Saxbee is married to Jacqueline ("Jackie"), who was his secretary and with whom he has one grown-up daughter, Helen, who works for the Church Times. He enjoys reading Victorian novels, watching sport on television and listening to music. He is also a supporter of Bristol City FC.

Retirement

Saxbee announced to the March meeting of Lincoln's diocesan synod that he intended to retire as Bishop of Lincoln on 31 January 2011.

Saxbee's opposition to the proposed Anglican Covenant continued into his retirement when, together with Bishop Peter Selby, he was appointed an episcopal patron of the international No Anglican Covenant Coalition. In a joint letter to the Church Times, Saxbee and Selby warned that "this is a time to hold fast to Anglicanism’s inherited culture of inclusion and respectful debate which is our way of dealing with difference rather than require assent to procedures and words that have already shown themselves to be divisive."

Other appointments

• President, Modern Church (1997–2011)
• President, RSPCA Mid Lincolnshire & Lincoln Branch (?–present)
• Religious Adviser, Central Television (?–present)
• Member, Springboard Executive (1998–present)
• Member, College of Evangelists (1998–present)
• Chair of Governors, Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln (2002–2011)
• Visitor, Eton College (2002–present)
• Episcopal Patron for No Anglican Covenant Coalition (2011–present)
• Patron, Student Christian Movement (?–present)

Styles

• John Saxbee Esq (1946–1970)
• Dr John Saxbee (1970–1972)
• The Revd Dr John Saxbee (1972–1988)
• The Revd Prebendary Dr John Saxbee (1988–1992)
• The Ven Dr John Saxbee (1992–1994)
• The Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee (1994–present)

References

Church of England titles
Preceded by Ian Griggs	Bishop of Ludlow 1994–2002	Succeeded by Michael Hooper
Preceded by Robert Hardy	Bishop of Lincoln 2002–2011	Succeeded by Christopher Lowson