Gordon McPhate
Gordon McPhate | |
|---|---|
| Dean of Chester | |
McPhate (left) with Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chester |
| In office | 2002 to 2017 |
| Predecessor | Stephen Smalley |
| Successor | Tim Stratford |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1978 (deacon) 1979 (priest) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 June 1950 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | |
Gordon Ferguson McPhate (born 1 June 1950) is a British retired Anglican priest, physician and academic. He spent his early career combining medicine and academia, while also holding non-stipendiary clergy appointments. He then served as Dean of Chester from 2002 to 2017, before retiring.[1]
Biography
McPhate was born on 1 June 1950.[2] He studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) degrees in 1974.[3][4] He was then a tutor in physiology at Clare College, Cambridge.[4] During this, he also trained for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge, and studied theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.[2][3] He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab).[3] He was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1978 and as a priest in 1979.[5]
In 1978, he joined Guy's Hospital Medical School as a lecturer in physiology.[4] From 1978 to 1981, he served his curacy as a non-stipendiary minister in the Parish of Sanderstead, Diocese of Southwark.[3] Then, from 1981 to 1986, he was an honorary priest vicar of Southwark Cathedral and a lecturer for the Diocese of London.[3] In 1984, he moved to Guildford Hospital where he has been appointed registrar in pathology.[4] In 1986, he was graduated with a Master of Science (MSc) degree from the University of Surrey.[3] That year, also he returned to academia full-time, becoming a lecturer in physiology at the University of St Andrews.[4] He also held a post in the university's chaplaincy as a priest of the Scottish Episcopal Church's Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.[3][6] He also continued his studies and was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (MD) research degree by the University of Cambridge in 1988.[3] He was promoted to senior lecturer in experimental pathology in 1993,[4][7] and was awarded a Master of Theology (MTh) degree in medical ethics by the University of Edinburgh in 1994.[8][9] He was an honorary consultant chemical pathologist for Fife Hospitals between 1996 and 2002.[4]
On 19 August 2002, McPhate was appointed Dean of Chester, the senior priest of Chester Cathedral, Diocese of Chester.[10][11] This was the most senior appointment made of a clergyman who had "spent his life working in a non-church profession".[7] In 2003, he was appointed honorary professor of theology and medicine at University College, Chester.[4] He was also an honorary reader in medicine at the University of Liverpool from 2005 to 2008.[4] He is a member of the Society of Ordained Scientists.[12] He retired from full-time ministry on 30 September 2017.[13] Since 2018, he has held permission to officiate in the Church in Wales' Diocese of Bangor.[3]
Personal life
McPhate is unmarried.[4] He has one adopted son,[4] who first came to foster with him as a teenager in 1981.[7]
References
- ^ Debrett's People of Today London, Debrett's, 2008 ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
- ^ a b "Preview Family Record: McPHATE". www.burkespeerage.com. Burke's Peerage. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gordon Ferguson McPhate". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "McPHATE, Very Rev. Gordon Ferguson, MD, FRCPE; Dean of Chester, 2002-17". Who's Who 2023 (175 ed.). London: A & C Black. 2023. p. 1576.
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 (100th edition), Church House Publishing (ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0).
- ^ "Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000" Bertie, D.M: Edinburgh T & T Clark ISBN 0-567-08746-8
- ^ a b c Rylance, Stephen (8 February 2002). "Doctor is 'perfect' as new dean of cathedral". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ ‘McPHATE, Very Rev. Gordon Ferguson’, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016
- ^ Green, Michael (12 May 2017). "Dean of Chester announces his retirement". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "No. 56671". The London Gazette. 22 August 2002. p. 10147.
- ^ "Provincial Directory: Chester". Anglican Communion Website. Anglican Communion Office. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ Deane-Drummond, Celia; Scott, Peter (2006). Future Perfect? God, Medicine and Human Identity (PDF). London: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9780567375605.
- ^ "Resignations and retirements". Church Times. No. 8044. p. 31. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 20 May 2017.