Jeffery Rowthorn

Jeffery William Rowthorn (also spelled Jeffrey; 9 April 1934 – 23 July 2025) was an Anglican bishop and hymnographer primarily active in the Episcopal Church in the United States. His early career was spent in parish ministry in the Diocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Oxford of the Church of England. He then moved to the United States where he worked at two seminaries: Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and Berkeley Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. He was elected a bishop in the Episcopal Church, serving as a suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut from 1987 to 1994, and as Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe from 1994 to 2001.

Early life and education Rowthorn was born on 9 April 1934 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.

He then studied modern languages (Russian, German, Persian and Arabic) at Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1957; as per tradition, the BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA (Cantab)) degree in 1962. Having been awarded a Rotary Foundation Fellowship, he studied at the Union Theological Seminary, a Christian seminary in New York City, United States. From 1962 to 1965, he served his curacy at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich in the Diocese of Southwark. From 1965 to 1968, he was Rector of the Benefice of Garsington in the Diocese of Oxford. and was a founding member of the North American Academy of Liturgy.

Episcopal ministry In May 1987, Rowthorn was elected a suffragan bishop by the Diocese of Connecticut.

On 1 January 1994, he was appointed Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe (the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church that covers Continental Europe). In April 1994, he was installed at the American Cathedral in Paris in Paris, France. From 1995 to 2001, he was additionally an assistant bishop of the Church of England's Diocese in Europe.