Stephen Platten
British bishop (born 1947)
Stephen George Platten (born 17 May 1947), is a retired Anglican prelate, the last to serve as diocesan Bishop of Wakefield in the Church of England.
Consecrated as a bishop on 19 July 2003, he was installed at Wakefield Cathedral on 19 July 2003. Platten previously served as Dean of Norwich from 1995.
Early life and education
Platten was educated at the Stationers' Company's School, later graduating with a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree from the Institute of Education and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Theology from Cuddesdon College. He then pursued further religious studies at Trinity College, Oxford, receiving a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree.
Bishop Platten was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (Hon DLitt) from UEA in 2003 and an Hon. DUniv from the University of Huddersfield in 2012.
Ordained ministry
Platten was ordained a deacon in 1975 and entered the priesthood in 1976 in the diocese of Oxford. He served as a Canon Residentiary of Portsmouth Cathedral and the diocese of Portsmouth's Director of Ordinands (1983–1990), then the Archbishop of Canterbury's Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs (1990–1995). A member of the Third Order of Saint Francis (TSSF), he served as the Minister Provincial of its European Province from 1991 to 1996.
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