Background
Cottrell was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
bishop Bishop of Chelmsford Bishop of Reading
Cottrell was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
He was educated at Belfairs High School. He studied at the Polytechnic of Central London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Bachelor) degree.
Since October 2010, he has been the Bishop of Chelmsford. From 2004 to 2010, he was the Bishop of Reading, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Oxford. In 1981, he entered Street Stephen"s House, Oxford to train for ordination.
His ordained ministry began as a curate at Christ Church, Forest Hill, after which he was priest in charge of Street Wilfrid"s, Chichester then Diocesan Missioner for the Diocese of Wakefield and finally (before his ordination to the episcopate) Canon Pastor of Peterborough Cathedral.
Cottrell was nominated area Bishop of Reading on 6 January 2004, after Jeffrey John controversially withdrew his nomination to the post in 2003. He had been a supporter of John"s original appointment.
He said of his nomination: "I am looking forward to becoming the next Bishop of Reading with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I believe my work in mission and evangelism has prepared me well for the challenges facing the church in this new century.
Following his nomination as Bishop of Chelmsford on 22 March 2010, he was translated to the See of Chelmsford on 6 October 2010.
He was installed at Chelmsford Cathedral on 27 November 2010. In December 2014, he was selected as president of the movement, taking up the appointment at the start of 2015. He has written several books on the subject of evangelism among his 38 published titles.
In 2007 Cottrell publicly opposed the renewal of Britain"s Trident missile systems
The Reverend Stephen Cottrell (1985–2001)
The Reverend Canon Stephen Cottrell (2001–2004)
The Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell (2004–present).
