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Ron Hesketh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronald David Hesketh, CB, QHC, FRGS (born 16 June 1947) is a British Anglican priest and retired military chaplain. From 2001 to[1] 2006, he served as Chaplain-in-Chief, and thereby head of the Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch, and Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force.[2]

Early life and education

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Hesketh was born in Liverpool on 16 June 1947.[2] He was educated at King David High School, a Jewish Orthodox state school in Liverpool that also accepts students of other faiths.[2] He studied at Bede College, Durham, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1968.[3] In 1969, he matriculated into Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Evangelical Anglican theological college, to train for ordained ministry;[3] He also studied at St. Michael's College, Llandaff, the Welsh Anglican theological college, from which he graduated with a Diploma in Pastoral Studies (DPS) in 1971.[2] He later studied with the Open University, from which he completed a Diploma in Reformation Studies in 1977.[2]

Ecclesiastical career

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Ron Hesketh was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1971 and as a priest in 1972.[3] His first post was a curacy at Holy Trinity Church, Southport in the Diocese of Liverpool.[3] He was then Chaplain to the Mersey branch of the Mission to Seamen. He was a chaplain of the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1975 to 2006, serving as Chaplain-in-Chief and Archdeacon for the RAF from 2001 to 2006.[2] He was a Canon and Prebendary at Lincoln Cathedral from 2001 to 2006; an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen from 2001 to 2006; and Vocational Officer for the Diocese of Worcester from 2006 to 2011. He has been Co-ordinating Chaplain to the West Mercia Police Force since 2009.[3] In 2018, Ron Hesketh was appointed as the National Chaplain to the Order of St John Fellowship.[4]

Personal life

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In 1971, Ron Hesketh married Vera Ruth Taylor. Together they have two children: one son and one daughter.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Service of Thanksgiving Battle of Britain. The Times (London, England), Monday, September 19, 2005; pg. 59; Issue 68496
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 'HESKETH, Ven. Ronald David', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 20 May 2017
  3. ^ a b c d e "Ronald David Hesketh". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  4. ^ "A Chaplain for the Fellowship" (PDF). stjohnengland.org.uk. April 2018. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
Military offices
Preceded by Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force
2001 – 2006
Succeeded by
Church of England titles
Preceded by Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force
2001 – 2006
Succeeded by