Suffragan See of Penrith
The Venerable Robert John Freeman, BSc, MA, Archdeacon of Halifax is nominated to the Suffragan See of Penrith.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Robert John Freeman, BSc, MA, Archdeacon of Halifax, in the diocese of Wakefield, to the Suffragan See of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle, in succession to the Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome, MA, on his translation to the See of Carlisle on the 31 July 2009.
Notes for editors
The Venerable Robert Freeman (aged 58), studied first at St John’s College, Durham and then at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge while he trained for the ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his curacy at Blackpool St John, in Blackburn Diocese from 1977 to 1981. From 1981 to 1985 he was Team Vicar at Chigwell, in Chelmsford Diocese. From 1985 to 1999 he was Vicar at The Church of the Martyrs Leicester in Leicester Diocese. From 1994 to 2003 he was Honorary Canon at Leicester Cathedral and from 1995 to 1998 he was Rural Dean of Christianity South. He was National Advisor in Evangelism for the Archbishops’ Council from 1999 to 2003. Since 2003 he has been Archdeacon at Halifax.
Robert Freeman is married to Chris. They have three daughters.
His interests include time spent with family, computer technology and internet development, walking and travelling, classic Motown, electric blues and rock, computer games, reluctant gardening, reading crime and action-adventure fiction. Until recently he was Chair of the Christian Enquiry Agency (www.christianity.org.uk) and continues to be the Chair of the innovative website www.rejesus.co.uk).