Nick Baines | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Leeds | |
 The Lord Bishop of Leeds, 2019 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leeds |
| In office | 8 June 2014 – present |
| Predecessor | New see |
| Other post(s) | areaBishop of Croydon(2003–2011) Bishop of Bradford(2011–2014) Acting Bishop of Leeds(22 April – 8 June 2014) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1987 (deacon) byGeorge Hacker 1988 (priest) byDavid Halsey |
| Consecration | 8 May 2003 by Rowan Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-11-13)13 November 1957 (age 67) |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Hollin House,Far Headingley,Leeds |
| Spouse | |
| Children | three |
| Profession | formerlylinguist |
| Alma mater | University of Bradford |
| Signature |  |
| Member of theHouse of Lords (Lord Spiritual) | |
| Assumed office 5 February 2015 | |
Nicholas Baines (born 13 November 1957) is a BritishAnglican bishop. He has served asBishop of Leeds since 2014,[1] having previously beenBishop of Bradford from 2011 to 2014 andBishop of Croydon from 2003 to 2011.
Baines was educated atHolt Comprehensive School inLiverpool from 1969 to 1976 before studying at theUniversity of Bradford, where he obtained aBachelor of Arts degree in German and French in 1980.[2] He then worked as a linguist atGCHQ for four years, where he also learned Russian.[3][4]
He trained for ordination atTrinity College, Bristol, where he gained aBachelor of Arts degree in theological studies.[5]
Baines was ordained a deacon atPetertide on 5 July 1987 byGeorge Hacker,Bishop of Penrith,[6] and was ordained a priest the following Petertide, on 3 July 1988, byDavid Halsey,Bishop of Carlisle, both times atCarlisle Cathedral.[7] His first appointments were as assistant curate atSt Thomas' Church, Kendal, and St Catherine's,Crook.[8] He then moved toLeicester, serving briefly as associate minister ofHoly Trinity Church before becoming vicar ofRothley (1992–2000), during which time he was also chaplain to an adult mental health unit. In 1995 he was appointed rural dean ofGoscote.[5] In 2000 Baines becameArchdeacon of Lambeth in theDiocese of Southwark,[9] where he oversaw the diocese's children and youth policies. He was a member of theGeneral Synod of the Church of England from 1995 to 2005.
Baines was appointedBishop of Croydon in 2003, succeedingWilfred Wood. He wasconsecrated byRowan Williams,Archbishop of Canterbury, atSt Paul's Cathedral and installed inSouthwark Cathedral on 8 May 2003.[5]
Theconfirmation of Baines's election to the see of Bradford was on 1 April 2011[10] and he was enthroned atBradford Cathedral on 21 May 2011.[11] In 2011 Baines said that "Christians should learn from Muslims how to exist as a 'minority' culture in British cities that are increasingly dominated by immigrant communities".[12]
On 29 May 2013 he consecratedNick Dill asBishop of Bermuda on behalf ofJustin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.[13]
On 4 February 2014 it was announced that Baines would become the diocesan and areaBishop of Leeds[1] upon theconfirmation of his election on 8 June;[14] he was acting diocesan and area bishop from 22 April 2014[15] (he was licensed as anhonorary assistant bishop of theDiocese of York to facilitate the acting role).[16]
On 2014 he took his seat in theHouse of Lords as one of theLords Spiritual.
Baines is an experienced broadcaster, regularly appearing onPause for Thought onBBC Radio 2. While in Leicester he broadcast regularly onBBC Radio Leicester andLeicester Sound and twice received a commendation in the Andrew Cross Awards for religious broadcasting.
In 2022, in the wake of theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Baines suggested that the Ukrainian military should cease fighting and entertain the prospect of theCrimea and the easternDonbas region being annexed by Russia in order to achieve peace. While conceding that the long-term goal should be for Ukraine to control all its territory, Baines suggested that this might be achieved through diplomacy and easing sanctions.[17]
Baines married his wife, Linda, in 1980, and they have three children.
An accomplished linguist, he has preached and presented academic papers in German and in 2022 was awarded theChartered Institute of LinguistsDavid Crystal Award.[4]
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Archdeacon of Lambeth 2000–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Croydon 2003–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Bradford 2011–2014 | diocese dissolved |
| New title | Bishop of Leeds 8 June 2014 – present (Acting 22 April – 8 June 2014) | Incumbent |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
