Anthony Martin Priddis (born 15 March 1948) is a retired British Anglican bishop who served as the Bishop of Hereford in the Church of England from 2004 to 2013. He previously served as the Bishop of Warwick (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Coventry) from 1996 to 2004.
Education and Ordination
Priddis was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (where he earned a Master of Arts), New College, Oxford (earning a second Master of Arts), and trained for ordained ministry at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford, where he received a Diploma in Theology (DipTh). He was ordained as a deacon in 1972 at Canterbury Cathedral and began his ordained ministry in New Addington, Surrey.
Ministry
After his curacy in the Diocese of Canterbury, Priddis served as chaplain of Christ Church, Oxford, and as Team Vicar in High Wycombe. From 1986 to 1996, he served as Rector of Amersham and was an honorary canon of Christ Church, Oxford. In 1996, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Warwick. He was appointed Bishop of Hereford in March 2004, becoming the first bishop appointed by the Church of England following an external advertising process. He retired on 24 September 2013.
Notable Events
In 2005, Priddis ordained Sarah Jones, a transgender woman, to the priesthood, a decision he defended against criticism from the Evangelical Alliance.
In 2007, Priddis vetoed the appointment of a gay youth officer, who subsequently brought Employment Tribunal proceedings against the diocese claiming unlawful discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The tribunal found in favour of the youth officer, ruling that Priddis had acted unlawfully by discriminating against him because of his sexuality. The diocese was ordered to pay over £47,000 in compensation, and the tribunal expected Priddis to undergo equal opportunities training. Priddis was subsequently named "Bigot of the Year" by the gay equality group Stonewall.
Personal Life
Priddis is married to Kathy, and the couple have three children. He sits in the House of Lords as a Lord Spiritual, having served as a Lord Spiritual from 24 November 2009 until his retirement on 24 September 2013.
