Graeme Knowles

This article is about the bishop. For the cricketer, seeGraham Knowles.

The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles CVO
Dean of St Paul's
Knowles in 2009
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of London
In office	2007–2011
Predecessor	John Moses
Successor	David Ison
Other post(s)	Acting Dean of St Edmundsbury(2017–2018) Bishop ofSodor and Man(2003–2007) Dean of Carlisle(1999–2003) Archdeacon of Portsmouth(1993–1999)
Orders
Ordination	1974 (deacon); 1975 (priest)
Consecration	4 December 2003
Personal details
Born	(1951-09-25)25 September 1951 Woburn,Bedfordshire
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Stan & Grace
Spouse	Susan
Alma mater	King's College London

Graeme Paul KnowlesCVO(born 25 September 1951) is a retiredAnglicanbishop. He served latterly as the ActingDean of St Edmundsbury,having previously served asBishop of Sodor and Manand asDean of St Paul's.

Biography

Knowles was educated atDunstable Grammar SchoolandKing's College London,spending his final year of theological studies atSt Augustine's College, Canterbury.

Knowles served a curacy at St Peter-in-Thanet inBroadstairs,Kentfrom 1974 to 1979. From 1979 he was precentor and senior curate of Leeds Parish Church before moving to becomeprecentorand acanon residentiaryatPortsmouth Cathedralin 1981. He was also a chaplain during his time at the cathedral and held the post of chapter clerk from 1985 to 1987. He became the vicar of Leigh Park in 1987, additionally taking on the role of Rural Dean of Havant from 1990. He was appointedArchdeacon of Portsmouthin 1993 and held the post until 1999.

Knowles wasDean of Carlislefrom 1999until he moved to theIsle of ManasBishop of Sodor and Manin 2003, replacingNoël Jones.He was consecrated a bishop byDavid Hope,Archbishop of YorkatYork Minsteron 4 December 2003 and installed atPeel Cathedralon 17 January 2004.He becameDean of St Paul'sin 2007 in succession toJohn Moseswho retired in 2006.

Knowles was installed asDean of St Paul'sCathedral, London on 1 October 2007 afterLetters Patentwere issued on 20 September 2007.He resigned from St Paul's on 1 November 2011 as a result of the reactions to the Chapter's resolution to evict theOccupy Londonprotesters from cathedral land.

Knowles is also an honorary chaplain in theRoyal Naval Reserveand a patron of theBurgon Society.

After leaving St Paul's, Knowles retired toBury St Edmunds,where he was licensed as anhonorary assistant bishopand appointed as registrar ofSons of the Clergy,a charity supporting the families of Anglican clergy.

On 11 January 2023, Knowles was installed as Acting Dean of Chichesterfollowing the departure ofStephen Waine.The Diocese of Chichester had earlier announced that Knowles would take up the role until April 2023.

Styles

• The ReverendGraeme Knowles (1974–1981)
• TheVenerableGraeme Knowles (1993–1999)
• TheVery ReverendGraeme Knowles (1999–2003)
• TheRight ReverendGraeme Knowles (2003–2012)
• TheRight ReverendGraeme KnowlesCVO(2012–present)