Canon Christopher Cocksworth (aged 49) was educated at Manchester University and trained for the ministry at St John's College, Nottingham. He served his first curacy at Epsom Common Christ Church, Guildford diocese, from 1988 to 1992. From 1992 to 1997 he served as Chaplain of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College and then as the Director of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme from 1997 to 2001. He was an Honorary Canon of Guildford Cathedral from 1999 to 2001. He has been Principal of Ridley Hall (a member of the Cambridge Theological Federation), since 2001.
He served on the Church of England Liturgical Commission from 1996 to 2006 and is the author or co-author of a number of books and articles including "Evangelical Eucharistic Thought in the Church of England" (1993), "Holy, Holy, Holy: Worshipping the Trinitarian God" (1997), "Being a Priest Today" (2002, 2006) and (forthcoming, 2008) "Holding Together: Gospel, Church and Spirit".
His interests include hill-walking, cycling, swimming and film watching.
He is married to Charlotte and they have five sons: Tim (24), Ash (22), Sam (20), Seb (14) and Matt (10). Charlotte is trained as a teacher of the deaf and currently teaches children excluded from school.
(The following announcement has been circulated by Roger Morris, Director of the Forum for Parish Development and Evangelism, Diocese of Coventry)
It is a great joy to be able to announce that the next Bishop of Coventry is to be The Revd. Canon Christopher Cocksworth.
Christopher has been Principal of Ridley Hall for the last (almost) seven years and co-leader of the Cambridge Federation of Theological Colleges, comprising Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Methodist and U.R.C. colleges. He will bring with him considerable experience of the breadth of the Church and to working together across denominations both regionally and nationally. With experience of the international church in Germany (EKD) and the Syrian Orthodox church in Syria, he will, I am sure bring energy and enthusiasm to developing the many international relationships we enjoy as Diocese and Cathedral.
Through the training of ordinands, Christopher has enjoyed widespread contact with parishes in every kind of context across the Dioceses of the Church of England and very much looks forward to the rich variety of church and parish life that this Diocese offers.
As teacher, preacher and writer, he has a deep commitment to holding together evangelical, catholic and charismatic principles in one holistic vision of Christian faith - as his forthcoming book Holding Together: Gospel, Church and Spirit will make plain.
At Ridley Hall, he has, with Bishop Mouneer Anis and Al-Azhar University in Egypt, pioneered Christian - Muslim encounter and dialogue involving scholars and leaders of both faiths in mutual education and growing understanding. He will, I am sure, bring insight and encouragement to our own engagements with other faith leaders and communities.
Christopher is passionately committed to reclaiming the Church's place in the public square and to the continuing education of clergy and laity to enable this to happen more fully and effectively.
As a member of The Liturgical Commission, he has been involved in the writing and production of Common Worship and, in particular, The Daily Office.
Above all, I believe that Christopher will help us to grow both in our relationship with God and in our engagement with the world.
If you haven't already read it, I commend highly his Being a Priest Today.
Please do pray for Christopher, Charlotte and the children as they prepare for the move. We very much look forward to welcoming them in the autumn.