Anthony Robert Wright, LVO (born 1949) is a retired Church of England priest. He served as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1998 to 2010. From 2005 to 2010, he was also Sub-Dean and a canon of Westminster Abbey, and Archdeacon of Westminster. In 2010, he retired and was appointed canon emeritus.[1][2]

Early life and education

Wright was born in 1949.[3] He studied Modern Studies at Lanchester Polytechnic in Coventry, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1970.[3][4] In 1970, he entered St Stephen's House, Oxford, an Anglo-Catholic theological college, to train for ordination.[3] During this time, he also studied theology at the University of Oxford, and completed a Certificate in Theology (CTh).[4]

Ordained ministry

Wright was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1973 and as a priest in 1974.[3] From 1973 to 1976, he served his curacy at St Michael and All Angels, Amersham-on-the-Hill in the Diocese of Oxford.[3] He served as further curacy at St Giles' Church, Reading between 1976 and 1978.[4] From 1978 to 1984, he served as priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Church, Prestwood.[3] He was then the incumbent of St Peter and St Paul's Church, Wantage: first as priest-in-charge (1978–1984) and then as vicar (1987–1992).[3] He was also Rural Dean of Wantage between 1984 and 1992.[3][4]

In 1992, Wright moved from the Diocese of Oxford to the Diocese of Portsmouth.[3] From 1992 to 1998, he was Vicar of Portsea (a parish that includes St Mary's Church, Portsea).[3][4] In 1996, he was made an honorary canon of Portsmouth Cathedral.[3]

From 1998 to 2010, Wright served as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and Rector of St Margaret's Church, Westminster.[5] He was additionally a canon of Westminster Abbey from 1998, Sub-Dean of the Abbey from 2005 to 2010, and Archdeacon of Westminster from 2009 to 2010.[3]

In September 2010, Wright retired from full-time ministry and was appointed canon emeritus.[6] Since 2011, he has held Permission to Officiate in the Diocese of Oxford.[3]

Personal life

In 1970, Wright married Leah Helen Flower. Together they had one son and one daughter.[4]

Honours

In the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours, Wright was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO).[7]

References

  1. ^ "Wright, Rev. Canon (Anthony) Robert". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (December 2013 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 22 November 2014. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Hough, Andrew; Savill, Richard (27 June 2010). "Row over appointment of female cleric as Commons chaplain". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Anthony Robert Wright". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f 'WRIGHT, Rev. Canon (Anthony) Robert', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 13 June 2017
  5. ^ "Wright, Rev. Canon (Anthony) Robert, (born 24 April 1949), Canon, 1998–2010, Sub-Dean, 2005–10 and Archdeacon, 2009–10, of Westminster; Rector of St Margaret's, Westminster, and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, 1998–2010". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U40774. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Canon Robert Wright to leave Abbey". Westminster Abbey. February 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  7. ^ "No. 59446". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2010. p. 3.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons
1998–2010 		Succeeded by