John Dobson (priest)


John Dobson

Dean of Ripon
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Leeds
In office2014–present
PredecessorKeith Jukes
Orders
Ordination1989 (deacon)
1990 (priest)
Personal details
Born
John Richard Dobson

(1964-11-16) 16 November 1964 (age 59)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseNicola
ChildrenTwo
EducationGarforth Comprehensive School
Alma materDurham University
Ripon College Cuddesdon

John Richard Dobson DL (born 16 November 1964) is a British Church of England priest. Since 2014, he has been the dean of Ripon. Previously, he was a curate in County Durham and a vicar in Darlington. He also held the senior posts of area dean of Darlington and chair of the House of Clergy of the Durham Diocesan Synod.

Early life[edit]

Dobson was born on 16 November 1964 in Swillington, Tadcaster Rural District, West Riding of Yorkshire.[1][2][3] He was educated at Garforth Comprehensive School, a state school in Garforth, West Yorkshire.[4] He studied theology at Van Mildert College, Durham University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1987.[2][4] That year, he entered Ripon College Cuddesdon, an Anglican theological college, and spent the next two years preparing for ordination.[2]

Ordained ministry[edit]

Dobson was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1989 and as a priest in 1990.[2] From 1989 to 1992, he served his curacy at St Cuthbert's Church, Benfieldside in the Diocese of Durham.[5] He then moved to Darlington, where he was assistant curate of the town's St Cuthbert's Church from 1992 to 1996.[2] From 1996 to 1998, he was Clerk in Charge at All Saints and Salutation Church, Darlington.[5] He was vicar of that church from 1998 to 2014. In addition, he was priest-in-charge of St Edwin's Church, High Coniscliffe.[2] Further to his parochial duties, he was area dean of Darlington from 2001 to 2014.[5] He was made an honorary canon of Durham Cathedral in 2008.[2] From 2009 to 2014, he served as chair of the House of Clergy of the Durham Diocesan Synod.[5]

In March 2014, he was announced as the new dean of Ripon to succeed Keith Jukes who died the previous year.[5] On 14 June 2014, he was installed as dean at Ripon Cathedral.[3]

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.[6]

Personal life[edit]

Dobson is married to Nicola. She is a primary school head teacher. Together, they have two children.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dobson, John Richard". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "John Richard Dobson". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Ripon Cathedral's Dean John Dobson installed". BBC News. BBC. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Video: New Dean unveiled at Ripon Cathedral". The Yorkshire Post. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Dean of Ripon: Reverend Canon John Richard Dobson". 13 March 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  6. ^ North Yorkshire's Deputy Lieutenants