Michael Jackson (bishop)
An Anglican archbishop who navigates the complexities of modern Irish society with a thoughtful, ecumenical spirit.
Born 1956 (age 70)·Anglican Archbishop Of Dublin·Birthday: May 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Michael Jackson is a church leader whose tenure has been defined by intellectual engagement and bridge-building in a rapidly changing Ireland. Born in 1956, he was educated at Trinity College Dublin and later at Cambridge, developing a deep academic foundation in theology. Ordained in the Church of Ireland, he served in parish ministry and as a lecturer before becoming Bishop of Clogher in 2002. His appointment as Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough in 2011 placed him at the helm of one of Anglicanism's most historic sees. In this role, he has been a steady, articulate voice, often addressing the delicate relationship between church, state, and a society moving beyond its traditionally Catholic identity. A committed ecumenist, he co-chairs the Porvoo Communion, strengthening ties between Anglican and Lutheran churches across Europe. Archbishop Jackson approaches his work with a pastor's heart and a scholar's mind, guiding his community through questions of faith, ethics, and social cohesion.
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.
Michael 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 Michael 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
Michael'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
- Appointed Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough in the Church of Ireland in 2011.
- Serves as the co-chairman of the Porvoo Communion, a fellowship of Anglican and Lutheran churches.
- Previously served as the Bishop of Clogher from 2002 to 2011.
Did You Know?
He holds a doctorate in theology from Trinity College Dublin.
Before his ordination, he worked for a brief time as a curate in the Diocese of Connor.
He is a published author on theological and ecumenical subjects.
“Theology must engage with the reality of people's lives, not just ancient texts.”
