Bill Down
British Anglican bishop (1934–2025)
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William John Denbigh Down (15 July 1934 – 4 February 2025) was a British cleric who was the ninth Bishop of Bermuda and later the Assistant Bishop of Leicester.
Bill Down | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Bishop of Leicester | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leicester |
| In office | 1995–2001 |
| Predecessor | Godfrey Ashby |
| Successor | John Austin |
| Other posts | Bishop of Bermuda (1990–1995) Honorary assistant bishop in Oxford (2001–2021) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1959 (deacon); 1960 (priest) |
| Consecration | 1990 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 July 1934 Surrey, United Kingdom |
| Died | 4 February 2025 (aged 90) Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | William & Beryl Down |
| Spouse | Sylvia Aves (m. 1960) |
| Children | 2 sons; 2 daughters |
| Profession | Missionary; writer |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
Biography
Educated at St John's College, Cambridge, Down was ordained in 1960. His first post was as a curate at St Paul's Church, Salisbury, after which he was secretary to the Missions to Seaman, chaplain of St Michael Paternoster Royal,[1] and honorary chaplain to the Carmen's Company[2] until his ordination to the episcopate in 1990.[3][4] He returned to England as the Assistant Bishop of Leicester in 1995[5] before retiring in 2001.[6] He was ultimately honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Oxford, where he settled at Witney.[7]
Down died on 4 February 2025, at the age of 90.[8]
