Full Name:
Dr. Richard John Carew Chartres

Official Title:
Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. Richard John Carew Chartres

Date of Birth:
11 July 1947 (1947-07-11)

Place of Birth:
Ware, Hertfordshire

Education:
Richard Hale School, Hertford;
Trinity College, Cambridge (MA)
Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxford
Lincoln Theological College, Lincolnshire

Ordained:
1974

Career:
Teacher, Ancient History, International School in Seville (1973)
Curate, St Andrew’s, Bedford
Chaplain to Robert Runcie, Bishop of St Albans (1975-80)
Chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury (1980-84)
Priest, St. Stephens Church, Rochester Row (1984-87)
Dir of Ordinands, , Diocese of London (1984-92)
Professor of Divinity, Gresham College, London (1987-92)
Bishop of Stepney, Diocese of London (1992-95)
The Bishop of London (1995)
Dean of Her Majesty Chapels Royal (1996)

Awards and Official Appointments:
Lambeth Bachelor of Divinity
Honorary Doctorate, St Mary's College
Honorary Doctorate, Brunel University
Honorary Doctorate, London Metropolitan University
Prelate of the Order of the British Empire
Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple
Liveryman of the Merchant Taylors' Company
Honorary Freeman of the Weavers’ Company
Chaplain of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Patron of Prospex
Fellow of the Burgon Society
Patron of the Georgian Group
Founder and Chairman of the Trustees, St Ethelburga's Centre
Trustee, Co-exist
Council Member, Tony Blair Faith Foundation
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries, London
Chairman, Ecumenical “London Church Leaders”
Chairman, Church Buildings Division, Church of England
Chairman, Board of Governors, Church Commissioners

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dr. Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, is probably best remembered for leading the ceremony for the memorial service of the late Princess of Wales, Diana. He is also the only Bishop who bears the right to be addressed as ‘Right Honourable’, owing to his appointment into the powerful Privy Council of The United Kingdom, a body of advisors for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. By virtue of that, he is an unofficial member of the House of Lords.

From his humble beginnings in the ancient town of Ware in East Hertfordshire county, the noted environmentalist, voted as one of the Top 100 Green in the United Kingdom in 2008 by The Independent, rise to prominence is nothing short of remarkable. He was ordained in 1974 following a short spell at teaching in Spain. His appointment as the 132nd Bishop of London in 1995 was a relatively unexpected choice at the time, but he has since proven the wisdom behind the decision with his display of knowledge, empathy and gravitas. His primary role as the Bishop of London lies with managing the relationship of the Ecclesia Anglicana (Church of England) with other orthodox churches and communities around the world.

The father of four, from his marriage to writer Caroline Chartres in 1982, also dabbles in writing, as evident from his personal blog where he comments on a variety of non-official matters, mostly on events, movies and books.

It was recently revealed that he has been chosen to present the sermon during the wedding of HRH Prince William and Miss Kate Middleton, a strong testament to the regards that the palace holds for him, considering that such events are almost exclusively under the purview of the Archbishop of Canterbury or the Dean of Westminster. In fact, this is the third time he has been involved on palace related matters, the first when he was chosen as the executor for the will of the late Princess of Wales, Diana, and the second, when he presided over the wedding of Lord Frederick of Windsor, royal cousin of HRH Prince William. He has also been credited with providing spiritual guidance to HRH Prince William on the days following the tragic death of his mother.