Christopher Chessun
A bishop who navigates the complex urban landscape of South London, advocating for social justice and unity within the Church of England.
Born 1956 (age 70)·British Anglican bishop and Lord Spiritual·Birthday: August 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Christopher Chessun's ministry has been defined by its engagement with the modern, diverse, and often challenging environment of one of England's largest dioceses. Ordained after a brief stint in law, his early career saw him serve in parishes across London, from the financial district to inner-city communities, giving him a granular understanding of the city's contrasts. As Bishop of Woolwich and then Bishop of Southwark, he has steered a course through the Church's internal debates on sexuality and identity, consistently advocating for a more inclusive approach while maintaining the church's broad tent. His leadership is marked by a focus on urban mission, interfaith relations—particularly with South London's significant Muslim communities—and social action on issues like homelessness and poverty. As a Lord Spiritual, he brings these frontline perspectives to the UK's House of Lords, arguing for compassion in policy. Chessun represents a strand of Anglicanism deeply committed to being present in the messy, vibrant life of the contemporary city.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Christopher was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Christopher Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Christopher's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Installed as the Bishop of Southwark in 2011, leading one of the Church of England's largest and most diverse dioceses.
- Served as the Bishop to the Forces (Bishop of the Armed Forces) from 2022, providing pastoral oversight to service personnel.
- Became a Lord Spiritual in 2014, taking a seat in the House of Lords to contribute to national moral and ethical debates.
Did You Know?
He worked as a solicitor for a short time before training for ordination.
Chessun is a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
He served as the Bishop of Woolwich, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Southwark, prior to becoming the diocesan bishop.
“The Church must be a place of encounter, not a fortress of certainty.”
