Countdown to Bishop of Doncaster’s ordination this week

Last Updated on Monday, 06 February 2012 11:00

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will ordain The Venerable Peter Burrows,  formerly Archdeacon of Leeds, to be the new Bishop of Doncaster in the Church of England Diocese of Sheffield in York Minster on Thursday 2 February at 11am.

The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Steven Croft, will be amongst many other bishops who will assist in Archdeacon Burrow’s ordination as bishop.

As Bishop of Doncaster, Peter Burrows will work across the Diocese of Sheffield assisting Dr Croft in his work as diocesan bishop.

The preacher at the service will be the Right Reverend James Bell, Bishop of Knaresborough in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.

Many clergy and laity from South Yorkshire will make the trip to York for the Service.

“I am looking forward to the day immensely and to seeing family and friends. Jane and I are looking forward to new challenges and opportunities as we begin our ministry in the Diocese of Sheffield,” said the Bishop-designate today.

Peter Burrows was born in Derby, and is married to Jane. They have two adult children, Adam and Amie. After working at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and a short career in the Civil Service he trained for the priesthood at Salisbury and Wells Theological College.

After being ordained in 1983 he served a curacy in Baildon in the Diocese of Bradford before returning to the East Midlands as Rector of Broughton Astley in the Diocese of Leicester where he served for 8 years. He continued in the area as Team Rector of a larger group of parishes until 2000. For six years of this time (1994-2000) he was also Rural Dean of Guthlaxton.

As a parish priest he was involved with a number of community and social enterprise initiatives. Overlapping with his time as Team Rector he took responsibility for all vocations, lay and ordained, becoming the Diocesan Director of Ordinands from 1997-2003 and Warden of Readers until 2005. He was also an Inspector of Theological Colleges, a member of St John’s College Council, and the East Midlands Ministerial Training Scheme, and Chair of the Vocations and Ministry Committee.

During this time he was involved in producing a number of reports and training  programmes. After leaving the parish in 2000 he took up an entirely new role for the diocese as Parish Development Officer which involved parishes developing actions plans, setting up Ministry Leadership Teams and new patterns of local training. From

2003 he was in addition Director of Ministry. Between 1998 and 2005 he was an

Honorary Canon of Leicester Cathedral.

It was from there that he was appointed as the Archdeacon of Leeds in 2005. In Leeds he has chaired the Diocesan Ministry and Training Development Group and has worked as a member of the Board of Education and Council for Mission. He has further focused on finding funding and setting up three new Pioneer posts (the business community, new housing areas and the Night Time Economy) and a Fresh Expression in the city centre. He has also served on the Churches Regional Commission, been Vice Chair of Leeds Church Institute, Chair of the Oastler Centre and One City Projects and a Member of the Institute of Directors.

He was instrumental in setting up regular contacts with the business community which has been significant during the recent financial crisis.

He has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England in both Leicester and Ripon and Leeds Dioceses and is a Bishops’ Adviser for Selection and Training.

He lists amongst his interests all forms of Motor Sport, cooking Indian food and hospitality, playing the guitar (for own amusement only), and an eclectic taste in music. He enjoys travel and has a particular interest and connections in Argentina and Sri Lanka.