Julian Henderson

Julian Tudor Henderson (born 23 July 1954) is a retired British Anglican bishop. From 2013 to 2022, he was the Bishop of Blackburn, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Blackburn in the Church of England. From 2005 to 2013, he was the Archdeacon of Dorking in the Diocese of Guildford.

The Right Reverend Julian Henderson
Bishop of Blackburn
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Blackburn
In office	2013–2022
Predecessor	Nicholas Reade
Successor	Philip North
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Dorking (2005–2013)
Orders
Ordination	1979 (deacon) by Gerald Ellison 1980 (priest) by Jim Thompson
Consecration	10 October 2013 [1] by John Sentamu
Personal details
Born	(1954-07-23) 23 July 1954 (age 70)
Denomination	Anglican
Residence	Bishop's House, Salesbury[2]
Parents	Ian and Susan
Spouse	Heather ​ ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	two
Alma mater	Keble College, Oxford Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Member of the House of Lords (Lord Spiritual)
In office 6 February 2020 – 31 August 2022

Early life and education

Henderson was born on 23 July 1954, to Ian and Susan Henderson.^[3] He was educated at Radley College, an all-boys public school in Oxfordshire^[3] before reading theology at Keble College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1976.^[3][2] As per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA (Oxon)) degree in 1981.^[2] In 1977, he entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college, and spent two years training for ordained ministry.^[2]

Ordained ministry

Henderson was made a deacon in the Church of England at Michaelmas 1979 (30 September), by Gerald Ellison, Bishop of London, at St Paul's Cathedral,^[4] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (28 September 1980), by Jim Thompson, Bishop of Stepney, in his title church.^[5] He then served his three-year title post as assistant curate at St Mary's, Islington, London, being ordained a priest after the first year.

His first incumbency was as vicar of Emmanuel and St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, East Sussex from 1983 until he became vicar of Claygate (Holy Trinity), Surrey in 1992.^[6] While at Claygate, Henderson served as rural dean for Emly deanery from 1996 until 2001 and was made an honorary canon of Guildford Cathedral in 2001. In 2005, he was appointed Archdeacon of Dorking.^[6]

Episcopal ministry

10 Downing Street announced on 1 March 2013 that Henderson had been nominated diocesan Bishop of Blackburn. Having been elected by the Dean and Chapter of Blackburn Cathedral, his election was confirmed on 30 September 2013 at York Minster,^[7] he was consecrated a bishop there, by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, on 10 October 2013, and inaugurated at his cathedral on 19 October 2013.^[1]

In August 2022, Henderson retired aftering announcing his intention to do so back in March of that year.^[8]

Views

Henderson is an Evangelical Anglican, and is the President of the Church of England Evangelical Council.^[9] He has also been described as a conservative evangelical.^[10] He supports traditional teaching relating to same-sex relationships.^[10]

In July 2024, he was commissioned by the Church of England Evangelical Council as an "overseer" to provided alternative spiritual oversight (not to be confused with the Church of England's official alternative episcopal oversight) to evangelical clergy and parishes in the Church of England who maintain traditional teaching on the doctrine of marriage and sexual ethics, following the General Synod's support for the introduction of a service of blessing for same sex couples.^[11]

Personal life

Henderson married Heather in 1984, and they have two children.^[3]

Styles

• The Reverend Julian Henderson (1979–2001)
• The Reverend Canon Julian Henderson (2001–2005)
• The Venerable Julian Henderson (2005–2013)
• The Right Reverend Julian Henderson (2013–present)

References

1. Diocese of Blackburn – Excitement grows as dates are announced Archived 20 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 1 July 2013)
2. "Julian Tudor Henderson". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
3. "Henderson, Ven. Julian Tudor". Who's Who. Vol. 2013 (December 2012 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 29 December 2012. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
4. "Michaelmas ordinations". Church Times. No. 6085. 28 September 1979. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
5. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6138. 3 October 1980. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. GOV.UK – Diocese of Blackburn (Accessed 23 January 2014)
7. York Minster – Service booklet, 22 September 2013 Archived 17 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (Accessed 21 January 2014)
8. "An open letter to the Diocese of Blackburn" (PDF). Diocese of Blackburn. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
9. "Members of the Church of England Evangelical Council". Church of England Evangelical Council. 1 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
10. Sherwood, Harriet (13 November 2020). "Bishop says C of E change of stance on sexuality would spark exodus". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
11. "CEEC commissions first set of overseers". ceec.info. The Church of England Evangelical Council. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.