Richard Frith

Richard Michael Cockayne Frith^[1] (born 8 April 1949) is a British retired Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Hull and Bishop of Hereford.

The Right Reverend Richard Frith
Bishop of Hereford
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Hereford
In office	2014–2019
Predecessor	Anthony Priddis
Successor	Richard Jackson
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Taunton (1992–1998) Bishop of Hull (1998–2014)
Orders
Ordination	1974 (deacon) 1975 (priest) by Mervyn Stockwood
Consecration	c. 1998
Personal details
Born	(1949-04-08) 8 April 1949 (age 76)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Roger Frith
Spouse	1. ​ ​ (m. 1975⁠–⁠2000)​ 2. ​ ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	Four, including James Frith
Alma mater	Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Early life

Frith was born into a clerical family on 8 April 1949; his father was Roger Cokayne Frith, sometime canon and Vicar of Feltwell.^[2] He was educated at Marlborough College^[3] and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.^[4] He undertook training for ministry at St John's College, Nottingham.

Ordained ministry

Frith was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1974 (6 October)^[5] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (28 September 1975), both times by Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral.^[6] He began his ordained ministry as a curate in Mortlake, after which he was Vicar of Thamesmead. Following this he was Rector of Keynsham.^[2] Finally, before his ordination to the episcopate, he was the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1992.^[7]

Frith is also a trustee of maritime welfare charity the Mission to Seafarers.^[8]

Episcopal ministry

In January 1999, Frith became suffragan Bishop of Hull.^[9] On 16 July 2014, it was announced that Frith was to become the next Bishop of Hereford.^[10] His canonical election was confirmed on 17 October 2014^[11] and he was installed 22 November 2014 in Hereford Cathedral.^[12] His retirement has been announced, effective 30 November 2019.^[13]

Views

Frith is a supporter of introducing a blessing service to follow a civil same-sex marriage or civil partnership.^[14]

Personal life

Frith was married first to Jill Richardson from 1975 until 2000, having four children,^[4] and remarried in 2006.^[7] His son, James, is the Labour MP for Bury North.^[15][16]

Styles

• The Reverend Richard Frith (1974–1992)
• The Venerable Richard Frith (1992–1998)
• The Right Reverend Richard Frith (1998–present)