The Right Reverend Rod Thomas |
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Bishop of Maidstone (AEO) | |
Church | Church of England |
Diocese | Diocese of Canterbury |
In office | 2015–present |
Other posts | Vicar of Elburton, Diocese of Exeter (1999–2015) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1993 (deacon) 1994 (priest) |
Consecration | 23 September 2015 by Justin Welby |
Personal details | |
Birth name | Roderick Charles Howell Thomas |
Born | 7 August 1954 |
Nationality | British |
Denomination | Anglicanism |
Spouse | Lesley |
Children | Three |
Alma mater |
London School of Economics Wycliffe Hall, Oxford |
Roderick Charles Howell "Rod" Thomas (born 7 August 1954) is a Church of England bishop. Since September 2015, he has been the Bishop of Maidstone, a provincial episcopal visitor for conservative evangelical members and parishes of the church.
Thomas was born in 7 August 1954 in London, England. He was educated in Ealing, West London. He studied economics at the London School of Economics, and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.
Having completed his degree, Thomas joined Her Majesty's Civil Service. He left the Civil Service to become a researcher for the Institute of Directors. He ended his business career as Director of Employment and Environmental Affairs at the Confederation of British Industry, before leaving in 1991 to train for ordained ministry.
His early years were spent as a member of the Exclusive Plymouth Brethren. At the age of 12, under the influence of Billy Graham, John Stott, Maurice Wood and having attended Emmanuel Church, Wimbledon, he became an Anglican. In 1991, he entered Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, a Church of England theological college, to train for ordained ministry.