Annette Cooper

Annette Joy Cooper (born 15 November 1953) is a retired British Church of England priest. She was the Archdeacon of Colchester (in the Diocese of Chelmsford) from 2004 until 2018.

Early life Cooper was born on 15 November 1953, the daughter of Harry Whitaker and Grace (née Parnham, later James). She was educated at Lilley and Stone Girls' High School, then an all-girls grammar school in Newark-on-Trent. She then became a non-stipendiary minister at St Peter, Pembury and simultaneously a full-time assistant chaplain in the Tunbridge Wells health authority until 1991.

In 1996, Cooper moved to become priest-in-charge of St Mary's, Edwinstowe, where she was also a chaplain at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest (until 2000), area dean of the Worksop deanery (from 1999) and an honorary canon of Southwell Minster (from 2002).

In 2004, Cooper became Archdeacon of Colchester in the Diocese of Chelmsford, in which role she was also made an honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. When her archdeaconry was split on 1 February 2013, she became (additionally) Acting Archdeacon of Stansted until the first incumbent of that post (Robin King) was collated on 15 September 2013.

During 2013, Cooper was elected by and from among the female "senior priests" of the East Anglia region to attend meetings (as 'participant observers') of the House of Bishops as one of eight Regional Representatives, as an interim measure until six women sit in the House by right. She served until that arrangement was ended in December 2016.

Cooper retired during November 2018.

Personal life In 1972, the then Annette Whitaker married Andrew Cooper. Together, they have two sons and four grandchildren.

Styles 1988–2002 & 2018–present: The Reverend Annette Cooper 2002–2004: The Reverend Canon Annette Cooper 2004–2018: The Venerable Annette Cooper