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Lee Stephen Rayfield (born 30 September 1955) is a retired Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Swindon.

Education and medical career

Rayfield was educated at the University of Southampton, where he gained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) honours degree in Biology in 1978. He then studied for his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from St Mary's Hospital Medical School (Paddington, Greater London), being awarded his doctorate in 1981, after which he remained as a post-doctoral researcher until 1984. His final medical post was as a lecturer in immunology at UMDS (Borough & Waterloo, Greater London). As an immunologist, he has contributed to a number of journals and textbooks. A keen amateur runner and cyclist, he has been married since 1978, with three children.

Ministry

In 1991, Rayfield went to Ridley Hall, Cambridge to study for the ministry, after which he was made a deacon at Petertide (4 July) 1993 at Chelmsford Cathedral and ordained a priest the Petertide following (26 June 1994), at Waltham Abbey, both times by John Waine, Bishop of Chelmsford. His ministerial career began with a curacy at Woodford, London (1993–1997) after which he held his only incumbency, as Priest in Charge (1997–2004, and later Vicar, 2004–2005) of St Peter's Furze Platt (Maidenhead, Berkshire). While at Furze Platt, he was additionally a part-time chaplain at St Mark's Hospital, Maidenhead (from 1997), and Area Dean of Maidenhead (from 2000; the deanery changed to Maidenhead and Windsor from 2003). He has also been a member of the Society of Ordained Scientists (SOSc) since 1995, and served on the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (2000–2009) and on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority since 2012.

He became the Bishop of Swindon, the sole suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Bristol, in 2005: he was ordained and consecrated a bishop on 8 June by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, and installed at Bristol Cathedral on 18 June. Rayfield was Acting Bishop of Bristol after the retirement of Mike Hill in September 2017, until the election of Vivienne Faull in July 2018. On 13 February 2023, he announced his retirement, effective 30 April.

Styles

• Doctor Lee Rayfield (1981–1993)
• The Reverend Doctor Lee Rayfield (1993–2005)
• The Right Reverend Doctor Lee Rayfield (2005–present)

References

1. ^ BBC News — New bishop installed in Swindon
2. ^ "Rayfield, Lee Stephen". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2017. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
3. ^ BBC Wiltshire — New Bishop in Town
4. Anglican Communion
5. ^ Official notification of appointment Archived 2007-11-10 at the Wayback Machine
6. Debrett's People of Today London, 2008 Debrett's, ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
7. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6804. 9 July 1993. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
8. "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6856. 8 July 1994. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 July 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
9. "Lee Stephen Rayfield". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
10. "Senior clergy". Diocese of Bristol. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017.
11. "Bishop Lee announces his retirement". Diocese of Bristol. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.

• 1955 births
• People educated at Marlborough College
• Alumni of the University of Southampton
• Academics of the University of London
• 21st-century Church of England bishops
• Living people
• Bishops of Swindon (previously Malmesbury)