Donald Allister
Donald Allister | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Peterborough | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Appointed | 5 November 2009 |
| Installed | 17 April 2010 |
| Term ended | 8 January 2023 (retired) |
| Predecessor | Ian Cundy |
| Successor | John Holbrook (acting) |
| Other post(s) | Archdeacon of Chester (2002–2010) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 27 June 1976 (deacon) 26 June 1977 (priest) by Victor Whitsey |
| Consecration | 25 March 2010 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 August 1952 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse | Janice |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Peterhouse, Cambridge |
| Member of the House of Lords (Lord Spiritual) | |
| In office 4 February 2014 – 8 January 2023 | |
Donald Spargo Allister (born 27 August 1952) is a retired Church of England bishop who served as the Archdeacon of Chester from 2002 to 2010 and the Bishop of Peterborough from 2010 to 2023.
Allister served in parish positions in Hyde, Greater Manchester; Sevenoaks, Kent; Birkenhead, Merseyside and Cheadle, Greater Manchester. While at Sevenoaks he also served as a consultant editor of the Church of England Newspaper and was also a part-time hospital chaplain in Birkenhead. Allister has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England since 2005 and was on the committee which drafted proposed legislation regarding the consecration of women as bishops. He is also a member of the Council for Christian Unity.
In 2001, Allister attracted media attention after it was reported that he had refused to allow a couple to have the hymns "Jerusalem" and "I Vow to Thee, My Country" at their wedding. He has also spoken out about baptising the children of unmarried couples and also on sex outside of marriage more generally.