Tim Stratford

The Very Reverend Tim Stratford
Dean of Chester
Stratford in 2023
Church	Church of England
In office	2018 to present
Predecessor	Gordon McPhate
Other post(s)	Archdeacon of Leicester (2012–2018)
Orders
Ordination	1986 (deacon) 1987 (priest)
Personal details
Born	Timothy Richard Stratford (1961-02-26) 26 February 1961 (age 63)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglicanism

Timothy Richard Stratford (born 26 February 1961) is an Anglican priest and author.[1][2] Since 2018, he has been Dean of Chester in the Church of England. He was previously Archdeacon of Leicester from 2012 to 2018.

Early life and education

Stratford was born on 26 February 1961 in Liverpool, England. He was educated at Knowsley Hey School, a comprehensive school in Huyton, Merseyside. He studied at the University of Leicester, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1982, and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.[3] He later studied for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the University of Sheffield, submitting his doctorate in 2008: his thesis was titled "Urban liturgy in the Church of England: a historical, theological and anthropological analysis of the mid-Victorian slum priest ritualists and their legacy".[4]

Ordained ministry

He was ordained deacon in 1986 and priest in 1987.[5] After curacies in Mossley Hill and St Helens he was chaplain to David Sheppard, Bishop of Liverpool from 1991 to 1994. He was vicar of West Derby from 1994 to 2003;[6] and team rector of Kirkby from 2003 to 2012. He was Archdeacon of Leicester from 2012[7] until his installation as Dean of Chester on 8 September 2018.[8]

On 7 June 2024, he officiated the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster and Olivia Grace Henson.[9]

Personal life

In 1986, Stratford married Jennifer. They have three sons.[3]

Selected works

Amongst others he has written:[10]

• Interactive Preaching (1998)
• Liturgy and Technology (1999)
• Liturgy and Urban Mission (2002)
• Using Common Worship: a service of the word (2002)
• Worship Window of the Urban Church (2006)

References

1. St Martin's House
2. Telegraph on-line
3. "Stratford, Very Rev. Dr Timothy Richard, (born 26 Feb. 1961), Dean of Chester, since 2018". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
4. Stratford, Timothy Richard (2008). "Urban liturgy in the Church of England : a historical, theological and anthropological analysis of the mid-Victorian slum priest ritualists and their legacy". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
5. "Tim Stratford". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
6. "Stratford, Timothy Richard". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 28 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
7. CofE Kirkby
8. Diocese of Chester — New Dean of Chester Cathedral announced (Accessed 10 April 2018)
9. "Who is Olivia Henson, the New Duchess of Westminster?". 7 June 2024.
10. British Library web site accessed 19:18 GMT Monday, 6 July 2009

Church of England titles
Preceded by Richard Atkinson	Archdeacon of Leicester 2012–2018	Succeeded by Richard Worsfold
Preceded by Gordon McPhate	Dean of Chester 2018–present	Incumbent