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Christine Elizabeth Hardman ( Atkins; born 27 August 1951) is a retired British
Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
bishop and former Lord Spiritual. She served as Archdeacon of Lewisham, 2001–2008; Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich, 2008–2012; and Bishop of Newcastle, 2015–2021.


Early life and education

Hardman was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls, then an all-girls' grammar school in
Barnet Barnet may refer to: People *Barnet (surname) * Barnet (given name) Places United Kingdom *Chipping Barnet or High Barnet, commonly known as Barnet, one of three focal towns of the borough below. *East Barnet, a district of the borough below; an ...
, London. She studied economics at Woolwich Polytechnic (now the University of Greenwich), and graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1973. After this, she worked as an articled clerk and with an estate agency. She later studied Applied Theology at Westminster College, Oxford, and graduated with a Master of Theology (MTh) degree in 1994. Hardman trained for
ordained ministry Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform vario ...
on a part-time basis with the St Albans Ministry Course (this later merged to become the present day Eastern Region Ministry Course). She is the first Church of England diocesan bishop to have been trained on a part-time course rather than at a residential theological college.


Ordained ministry

Hardman was licensed as a deaconess at Michaelmas 1984 (30 September) by
John Taylor John Taylor, Johnny Taylor or similar may refer to: Academics *John Taylor (Oxford), Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, 1486–1487 *John Taylor (classical scholar) (1704–1766), English classical scholar *John Taylor (English publisher) (178 ...
, Bishop of St Albans, at St Albans Cathedral, and served at St John the Baptist, Markyate Street in the Diocese of St Albans from 1984 to 1987. She was made a deacon on 9 May 1987, by John Taylor, Bishop of St Albans, at St John's, Chipping Barnet. She then served as Parish Deacon of St John's for a year. From 1988 to 1991, she was a tutor on the
St Albans Ministerial Training Scheme The Eastern Region Ministry Course (ERMC), based in Cambridge, is a part-residential theological training course which offers initial ministerial training on behalf of the Church of England. It used to offer this for the Methodist Church in Britain ...
. She served as Course Director of the
St Albans and Oxford Ministry Course The Eastern Region Ministry Course (ERMC), based in Cambridge, is a part-residential theological training course which offers initial ministerial training on behalf of the Church of England. It used to offer this for the Methodist Church in Britain ...
from 1991 to 1996. She was ordained as a priest in 1994; the first year that the Church of England ordained women to the priesthood. She returned to St John the Baptist, Markyate Street to serve her curacy between 1994 and 1996. Hardman was then Vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ the King,
Stevenage Stevenage ( ) is a large town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, about north of London. Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M), between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevena ...
from 1996 to 2001, as well as Rural Dean of Stevenage from 1999 to 2001. She was then Archdeacon of Lewisham (the title of the post changed to Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich in 2008) until her retirement from the post on 30 November 2012. She then became an
assistant priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particu ...
at Southwark Cathedral and held the title of archdeacon-
emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...
. She has been a Member of the General Synod of the Church of England since 1998, with a brief break, and was the Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury in the last synod 2010–2015; as a diocesan bishop she automatically became a member of the synod once again in the House of Bishops. On the synod, she has served on the following committees: Eucharistic Prayers Revision Committee, the Dioceses and Pastoral Measures Review Group, and the Ethical Investment Advisory Group. She was involved in the legislation which allowed women to become bishops in the Church of England.


Episcopal ministry

On 2 September 2015, it was announced that Hardman was to become the twelfth Bishop of NewcastleDiocese of Newcastle — Christine Hardman to be Twelfth Bishop of Newcastle
(Accessed 2 September 2015).
— the second woman to be a diocesan bishop in the Church of England and the first in the Province of York. She became the Bishop of Newcastle when her canonical election was confirmed on 22 September 2015 at York Minster. On 30 November 2015, she was consecrated a bishop by
John Sentamu John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, Baron Sentamu, (; ; born 10 June 1949) is a retired Anglican bishop and life peer. He was Archbishop of York and Primate of England from 2005 to 2020. Born near Kampala in Uganda, Sentamu studied law at Makerere U ...
, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster. On 12 December, a service of
inauguration In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inaugu ...
was held at Newcastle Cathedral during which she was enthroned as Bishop of Newcastle. Upon the retirement on 30 September 2015 of Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield, a seat in the House of Lords became vacant. With the passing of the
Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. It stipulates that whenever a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual during the next ten years after the Act comes into force, the position has to be filled by ...
, the vacancy had to be filled by a woman if one were eligible. As Hardman's confirmation of election had taken place eight days earlier, she became eligible. On 18 November 2015, she officially joined the House of Lords as a Lord Spiritual but tradition dictates that she would only take her place once she had participated in an introduction ceremony. She was introduced to the House of Lords on 26 January 2016, and made her maiden speech on 25 May 2016. On 14 August 2021, Hardman announced her retirement, effective 30 November 2021.


Personal life

In 1971, at the age of 19, she married Roger Hardman at
St Peter’s Church, Arkley ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Rodde ...
, Hertfordshire; they now have two adult daughters and four grandchildren.Thinking Anglicans blog
Next Bishop of Newcastle announced
(Accessed 2 September 2015).
Her hobbies including running and cycling; she has completed the London Marathon three times and the Great North Run once.


Styles

*'' The Reverend'' Christine Hardman (1987–2001) *''The Venerable'' Christine Hardman (200122 September 2015) *''The Reverend'' Christine Hardman (22 September30 November 2015) *''The
Right Reverend The Right Reverend (abbreviated The Rt Revd, The Rt Rev'd, The Rt Rev.) is a style applied to certain religious figures. Overview *In the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church in Great Britain, it applies to bishops, except that ''The M ...
'' Christine Hardman (30 November 2015present)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardman, Christine Elizabeth 1951 births Living people People educated at Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls Alumni of the University of London Archdeacons of Lewisham Bishops of Newcastle Lords Spiritual Women Anglican bishops Members of the General Synod of the Church of England Alumni of Westminster College, Oxford