John Inge

For 19th century English cricketer and army officer, seeJohn Inge (cricketer).

The Right Reverend John Inge
Bishop of Worcester
Inge in 2019
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Worcester
In office	2007 to 2024
Predecessor	Peter Selby
Successor	TBA
Other post(s)	Lord High Almoner(2013–2024)
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Huntingdon(2003–2008)
Orders
Ordination	1984 (deacon) 1985 (priest) byEric Kemp
Consecration	9 October 2003
Personal details
Born	(1955-02-26)26 February 1955
Denomination	Anglican
Residence	The Old Palace, Worcester
Spouse	Denise (died 2014) Helen ​ (m.2018)​
Profession	Teacher
Alma mater	St Chad's College,Durham Keble College, Oxford College of the Resurrection, Mirfield
Memberof theHouse of Lords (Lord Spiritual)
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 June 2012

John Geoffrey Inge(/ɪndʒ/INJ;born 26 February 1955) is a retired BritishAnglicanbishop. From 2007 to 2024, he was theBishop of Worcester,thediocesan bishopof theChurch of England'sDiocese of Worcester.Before that, from 2003 to 2007, he wasBishop of Huntingdon,asuffragan bishopin theDiocese of Ely.

Early life and education

John Inge was born to Geoffrey Alfred and Elsie Inge (néeHill) on 26 February 1955,.He was educated atKent Collegein Canterbury, at that time an all-boysdirect grant grammar school,now aprivate schoolin Kent.He went on to study chemistry atSt Chad's College,Durham University,graduating with aBachelor of Science(BSc) degree in 1977.That same year Inge performed withArthur Bostromat theEdinburgh Festivalas part of Durham University Sensible Thespians (DUST), which would be renamed theDurham Revuein 1988.In 1979, he undertookteacher trainingatKeble College, Oxfordand received aPostgraduate Certificate in Education(PGCE).

Having studiedchemistryat university and completedteacher training,Inge began his first career as asecondary schoolteacher. He taught chemistry atLancing College,a mixed-genderindependentboarding and day school inWest Sussex.He also served as a tutor of Teme House, one of the school'sboardinghouses.

He trained for ordination at theCollege of the Resurrection,Mirfield. During his ministry, he returned to Durham University forpostgraduate study.He completed aMaster of Arts(MA) degree in systematic theology in 1994 and aDoctor of Philosophy(PhD) in 2002.

Ordained ministry

Inge wasordainedin theChurch of Englandas adeaconatPetertide1984 (30 June), byEric Kemp,Bishop of Chichester,inChichester Cathedraland as apriestin Lancing College Chapel on 7 July the next year.From 1984 to 1986, he was the assistant chaplain atLancing College.He then moved toHarrow School,an all-boys independent boarding in London, where he was junior chaplain from 1987 to 1989 and senior chaplain from 1989 to 1990, while also continuing to teach.

After leaving Harrow, Inge moved into parish ministry. From 1990 to 1996, he was the vicar ofSt Luke's Church, Wallsendin theDiocese of Newcastle,where he also chaired the Board for Mission and Social Responsibility. He became acanon residentiaryofEly Cathedralin 1996 with particular responsibility for education and mission. He served asvice-deanof the cathedral from 1999 to 2003.

Episcopal ministry

Inge wasconsecrateda bishop on 9 October 2003byRowan Williams,Archbishop of Canterbury,atWestminster Abbey,to serve asBishop of Huntingdon(suffragan bishopin theDiocese of Ely).As the warden for readers in the Ely diocese he encouraged and equipped lay ministry; he chaired the Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council and co-chaired the East of England Faiths Council.

In July 2007, Inge was nominated to become theBishop of Worcester,and his election was confirmed on 20 November 2007.He wasenthronedatWorcester Cathedralas the 113th Bishop of Worcester on 1 March 2008.

Following a farewell service in Worcester Cathedral on 29 September,he will retire as Bishop of Worcester effective 9 October 2024.

Other work

Inge served as chair of the board of the College of Evangelists from 2010 to 2018. He served as a member of the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) from 2011 to 2016 and on the council ofRidley Hall, Cambridgefrom 2004 to 2010. He was for some years a trustee ofCommon Purpose UK,an international, not-for-profit organisation which organises leadership courses across the UK and abroad for the public, private and voluntary sectors, and for which he is now a trust protector.He chairs the council for theArchbishop of Canterbury's Examination (Lambeth Degree) in Theologywhich awards theLambeth Degree— an MA, MPhil or PhD in theology.He is also an advisor for the independent public policy think tankResPublica.He served as Visitor to the Community of the Holy Name from 2007 to 2020 and Visitor to Mucknell Abbey from 2009 to 2020. He was lead bishop on cathedrals and church buildings from 2014 to 2019.

Inge has led numerous groups to Africa, India, South America, Russia and the Holy Land. Whilst vice dean of Ely Cathedral he established a link between Ely and the Anglican cathedral ofChrist Church, Zanzibarand is active in Worcester diocesan links with the Morogoro diocese in theAnglican Church of Tanzaniaand the Anglican diocese of Peru. He is a longstanding supporter of theWorld Development Movement,which campaigns for justice and development in the Global South.

Inge was introduced in theHouse of Lordson 25 June 2012 and made his maiden speech three days later on 28 June. He joined his first cousin in the Upper House,Field Marshal The Lord Inge,a former Chief of the Defence Staff. On 15 February 2013 it was announced that he had been appointed to the office ofLord High Almoner,a post in theroyal household.He took part in the Royal Procession at the2023 Coronation.

Views

In November 2022, he published a letter alongside his suffragan bishop,Martin Gorick,that stated "the time has come for the Church to celebrate and honour same sex relations" and supported the introduction of same-sex marriage in the Church of England.He later published a detailed letter explaining his view.

In November 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of thePrayers of Love and Faith(i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".

Personal life

Inge was married to Denise; she died from cancer on April 20, 2014, at the age of 51.Together they had two children.He remarried in January 2018 to H-J Colston, a China Expert, who runs an educational charity, ‘Engage with China’.Through his second marriage, he has two step-children.

He is a Vice President of theNational Churches Trust.

Honours

Inge was awarded an honorary DLitt from theUniversity of Worcesterin 2011.In 2024, he was awarded theLanfranc Award for Education and Scholarshipby the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Publications

As well as numerous articles, he is the author ofA Christian Theology of Place(2003), which was shortlisted for the Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing, andLiving Love: in Conversation with the No 1. Ladies' Detective Agency(2007).