The Right Reverend Peter Spencer Dawes (M1941-46) has died.
05 January 2023
The Right Reverend Peter Spencer Dawes, fifth Church of England Bishop of Derby from 1988-95 who eased the way to the ordination of women priests, sadly passed away on 10 November 2022.An eminent OA, Peter was in McGill’s House 1941-46 and at school he played in the Fives VI and the Hockey XI. After National Service, Peter gained a first in theology at Durham and then trained at Tyndale Hall, Bristol before being ordained in 1954. From 1960 Peter taught at Clifton Theological College. He was Vicar of the Good Shepherd, Romford in1965 and became Archdeacon of West Ham in1980, then Bishop of Derby in 1988. He was vice-president of the Electoral Reform Society and chaired the Revision Committee of the Synod on the ordination of women to the priesthood. Peter married Ethel in 1954 who sadly she passed away in 2016. He is survived by their four children and five grandchildren. We send sincere condolences to Peter's family and friends on their loss.James James-CrookPresident, OA Society & Governor, The Aldenham Foundation