12 Facts About Richard Cheetham

Richard Ian Cheetham was born on 18 August 1955 and is a retired Church of England bishop and former teacher.

Richard Cheetham studied physics and philosophy at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Richard Cheetham remained at the University of Oxford to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

Richard Cheetham then moved to Eton College, Windsor, where he was Assistant Physics Master from 1980 to 1983.

Richard Cheetham began his career as curate at Holy Cross, Fenham, Newcastle upon Tyne and from 1990 until 1999 he was vicar of St Augustine of Canterbury's Church, Luton and additionally Rural Dean of the area.

On 17 October 2002, at Southwark Cathedral, he was one of the last three people to be ordained and consecrated a bishop by George Carey before his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury; Richard Cheetham was then enthroned as area Bishop of Kingston in Southwark Cathedral on 27 October 2002.

In 1999, Richard Cheetham completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree as an external student of King's College London.

Richard Cheetham's thesis was entitled, 'The nature and status of religious belief in contemporary Britain as reflected by acts of collective worship in a sample of Luton schools since the 1988 Education Reform Act'.

Richard Cheetham became an Honorary Research Fellow of King's College London in 2011.

Richard Cheetham is Chair of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, Anglican President of the Christian Muslim Forum, Patron of the Fircroft Trust, the Curriculum for Cohesion and Kingston Bereavement Service.

Richard Cheetham is President of the YMCA London South West who have a large multi-function building in Surbiton and became Chair of the British Regional Committee of St George's College, Jerusalem, in May 2013.

Richard Cheetham announced on 8 February 2022 that he would resign his See and retire effective 17 October 2022, the twentieth anniversary of his consecration.