{{short description|British Anglican bishop|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = bishop | honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend Dr | name = Nicholas Chamberlain | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop of Grantham | church = Church of England | province = | diocese = Lincoln | term = 2015–present | predecessor = Tim Ellis | successor = | other_post = | previous_post = Vicar of St George and St Hilda, Jesmond (2006–2015) <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 1991 (deacon) <br /> 1992 (priest) | ordained_by = | consecration = 19 November 2015 | consecrated_by = Justin Welby <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|11|25}} | birth_place = Staines, Middlesex, United Kingdom | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | religion = Anglicanism | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | education = Christleton High School | alma_mater = St Chad's College, Durham <br /> Edinburgh Theological College <br /> New College, Edinburgh }} '''Nicholas Alan''' "'''Nick'''" '''Chamberlain''' (born 25 November 1963) is a British Anglican bishop. On 19 November 2015, he became the suffragan Bishop of Grantham in the Diocese of Lincoln.<ref>Thinking Anglicans blog. [http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/007061.html Next Bishop of Grantham announced] (Accessed 6 October 2015)</ref> He had previously been vicar of the parish of St George and St Hilda, Jesmond, in the Diocese of Newcastle since 2006. Chamberlain is the first openly gay bishop in the Church of England.
==Early life and education== Chamberlain was born in Staines and educated at Christleton High School.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151005180658/http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/new-bishop-of-grantham-announced/ New Bishop of Grantham Announced], Diocese of Lincoln. 8 September 2015</ref> He then studied English and American Literature at St Chad's College, Durham,<ref>[http://www.newcastlehigh.gdst.net/welcome/the-team/governors/ Governors – Newcastle High School for Girls]. Newcastlehigh.gdst.net. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.</ref> and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1985.<ref name="Crockford entry">{{Crockford| surname = Chamberlain | forenames = Nicholas Alan | id = 14366 | accessed = 5 September 2016}}</ref>
In 1988, Chamberlain entered Edinburgh Theological College, an Anglican theological college, to train for ordination.<ref name="Crockford entry" /> During this time he also studied theology at New College, Edinburgh (graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1991) and undertook postgraduate research in American Literature at St Chad's College (completing his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1991).<ref name="Crockford entry" />
==Ordained ministry== He was ordained deacon at Durham Cathedral in 1991. He then served in the parish of St Mary, Cockerton, in the Diocese of Durham, where he was ordained priest in 1992. He served as curate of St Francis' Church, Newton Aycliffe, in 1994 before becoming team vicar there in 1995. The team became the Great Aycliffe Team Ministry when the parish of St Andrew, Great Aycliffe was added the following year.
In 1998, he became priest in charge of St Barnabas' Burnmoor, also taking up the post of officer for Continuing Ministerial Education and Post Ordination Training in the Diocese of Durham.
On 19 November 2015, Chamberlain was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.<ref name="linc">[http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/new-bishop-of-grantham-announced/ Diocese of Lincoln — New Bishop of Grantham announced] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005180658/http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/new-bishop-of-grantham-announced/ |date=5 October 2015 }} (Accessed 8 September 2015)</ref>
In April 2019, he wrote an Easter devotional expressing thanks "that the silence over LGBT+ people has been broken."<ref name="churchtimes.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2019/18-april/news/uk/bishop-grateful-for-end-to-silence-on-lgbtplus|title=Bishop grateful for end to silence on LGBT+|website=www.churchtimes.co.uk|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>
In February 2026 he became acting Bishop of Lincoln following the suspension of the current bishop, Stephen Conway.
===Views=== In November 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the ''Prayers of Love and Faith'' (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Francis |title=Don’t delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |access-date=2 November 2023 |work=Church Times |date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102131648/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/3-november/news/uk/don-t-delay-guidance-allowing-priests-to-be-in-same-sex-marriages-say-44-bishops |archive-date=2 November 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Chamberlain was the first bishop in the Church of England to come out as gay on 2 September 2016, following threats of an outing from an unnamed Sunday newspaper. He said he was in a celibate same-sex relationship,<ref group="N">The term "celibate relationship" is currently used in the Church of England to mean sexual abstinence; this usage is disputed. See celibacy and sexual abstinence.</ref> as required by the bishops' guidelines, under which gay clergy must assure bishops that they are celibate and may not marry.<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|last=Sherwood|first=Harriet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/02/nicholas-chamberlain-bishop-of-grantham-c-of-e-gay-relationship|title=Bishop of Grantham first C of E bishop to declare he is in gay relationship|work=The Guardian|date=2 September 2016|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/02/bishop-of-grantham-becomes-first-church-of-england-bishop-to-com/ The Telegraph — Bishop of Grantham becomes first Church of England bishop to come out publicly as gay] (Accessed 3 September 2016)</ref><ref>[http://changingattitude.org.uk/archives/8747 Press release — Changing Attitude England welcomes Bishop Nick Chamberlain’s openness] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903235748/http://changingattitude.org.uk/archives/8747 |date=3 September 2016 }} (Accessed 3 September 2016)</ref><ref>[http://www.lgcm.org.uk/news/the-bishop-of-grantham/ Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement — The Bishop of Grantham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811010835/http://www.lgcm.org.uk/news/the-bishop-of-grantham/ |date=11 August 2017 }} (Accessed 3 September 2016)</ref> Gay bishops are, however, permitted to enter into civil partnerships.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/04/church-of-england-gay-bishops|title=Church of England rules gay men in civil partnerships can become bishops|last=Walker|first=Peter|date=2013-01-04|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-09-16}}</ref> Chamberlain also described his relationship with his partner and their commitment. "Chamberlain said he had been with his partner for many years. 'It is faithful, loving, we are like-minded, we enjoy each other’s company and we share each other’s life,' he said."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/02/nicholas-chamberlain-bishop-of-grantham-c-of-e-gay-relationship|title=Bishop of Grantham first C of E bishop to declare he is in gay relationship |last= Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=2016-09-02|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-10-28|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ''Church of England Newspaper'' reported that he and his partner have been together for over 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchnewspaper.com/45605/archives|title=Gafcon says appointment of Bishop was a 'major error'|date=September 8, 2016|website=Church of England Newspaper}}</ref> An overwhelming proportion of approximately 500 letters and emails prompted by his coming out were supportive.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Davie|first1=Grace|last2=Starkey|first2=Caroline|date=2019|title=The Lincoln letters: a study in institutional change|journal=Ecclesial Practices|volume=6|pages=44–64|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ep/6/1/article-p44_44.xml|doi=10.1163/22144471-00601001|s2cid=190165311|issn=2214-4463|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222174729/https://brill.com/view/journals/ep/6/1/article-p44_44.xml|archive-date=22 December 2019|url-access=subscription}} [http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/141492/ Alt URL]</ref>
His interests include music, reading, cycling and running; he runs in half-marathons to raise money for Christian Aid and other charities. As aforementioned, he has a partner with whom he shares his life.<ref name="churchtimes.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2016/09/02/bishop-of-grantham-i-am-gay-and-in-a-relationship-1/|title=Bishop of Grantham: I am gay and in a relationship - AOL|website=www.aol.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}}</ref>
==Styles== *''The Reverend'' Doctor Nick Chamberlain (1991–2015)<ref>[http://stgeorgesjesmond.org/about-us/ Contact | St Georges Church Jesmond]. Stgeorgesjesmond.org. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.</ref><ref>[http://shipoffools.com/mystery/2008/1513.html The Mystery Worshipper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929064653/http://www.shipoffools.com/mystery/2008/1513.html |date=29 September 2013 }}. Ship of Fools (6 January 2008). Retrieved on 19 November 2015.</ref> *''The Right Reverend'' Doctor Nicholas Chamberlain (2015–present)<ref>[http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/service-of-welcome-for-the-new-bishop-of-grantham/ Diocese of Lincoln — Service of welcome for the new Bishop of Grantham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210191147/http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/service-of-welcome-for-the-new-bishop-of-grantham/ |date=10 December 2015 }} (Accessed 7 December 2015)</ref>
==Notes== <references group="N" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Portal|Christianity}} {{S-start}} {{S-rel|en}} {{S-bef|before=Tim Ellis}} {{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Grantham|years=2015–present}} {{S-inc}} {{S-end}} {{Bishops of Grantham}} {{Diocese of Lincoln}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamberlain, Nicholas Alan}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Church of England bishops Category:Bishops of Grantham Category:LGBTQ Anglican bishops Category:English gay men Category:People from Staines-upon-Thames Category:Alumni of St Chad's College, Durham Category:People educated at Christleton High School