Peter Townley

Peter Townley (born 16 November 1955) is a Church of England priest who served as Archdeacon of Pontefract, 2007[1]–2023.

Townley was born in Blackley, Manchester and educated at Moston Brook High School, the University of Sheffield and Ridley Hall, Cambridge.[2] He was ordained deacon in 1980, and priest in 1981. After a curacy at Christ Church, Ashton-under-Lyne he was Priest in charge of St Hugh, Oldham. He was Rector of All Saints’, Stretford from 1988 to 1996; and then Vicar of St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich from 1996 to 2008. He was also Rural Dean of Ipswich from 2001 to 2007.[3] In 2004, he was nominated for a bravery award after apprehending a thief, who had stolen a parishioner's handbag.[4] In 2023, Townley returned to parish ministry,[5] resigning his archdeaconry effective 25 September 2023.[6]

References

1. Companies House
2. "Townley Peter". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
3. TOWNLEY, Ven. Peter Kenneth’, Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, November 2016 accessed 25 July 2017
4. "Vicar could receive bravery award". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
5. "Peter Townley to leave diocese". Diocese of Leeds. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
6. "This week's notices". Sherburn in Elmet Group of Parishes. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.

Church of England titles
Preceded by Jonathan Greener	Archdeacon of Pontefract 2008–2023	TBA