Bishop Richard Jackson was born in West London, attending Latymer Upper School. Not being a particular fan of urban living, he arranged his studies to make a rural career a possibility. He read Agriculture and Forest Sciences at Christ Church, Oxford. There followed a year abroad in development in Pakistan, then an MSc in Soil and Water Engineering at Cranfield University. Before Ordination, he was a Senior Agronomist advising arable farmers on crop production.
He studied theology at Trinity College, Bristol and served a curacy in Lindfield, West Sussex, followed by 11 further years in rural, parochial ministry alongside work as Archdeaconry Warden of Readers and Rural Dean of Horsham. In 2009 he became Chichester Diocesan Mission and Renewal Advisor and Director of the Church Growth Advisory Team. He was consecrated Bishop of Lewes in 2014 and translated to Hereford in January 2020.
Alongside his diocesan responsibilities, +Richard is the Chair of both the Intercontinental Church Society and Trinity College Council.
Nationally, he Chairs the Remuneration and Conditions sub Committee of the Archbishop’s Council.
From a non-churchgoing background, he became a Christian at 17, in what was a dramatic turnaround from atheism. He is passionate about growing healthy churches, helping people to find Jesus for themselves, and the public truth of Christian faith.
+Richard is married to Deborah, a learning support teacher. He has three children: Annabel, a Psychiatric nurse; Sam a communications professional for a large management consultancy; and Charlie, a jazz musician and music teacher.
In his spare time he enjoys riding his motorbike, walking, gardening and trying to find the hedgehogs in the beautiful Palace gardens.
Here is a selection of photos of +Richard which can be used by media.