The Right Reverend Clifford Barker, Bishop of Whitby from 1976 to 1983 and Bishop of Selby from 1983 to 1991, died on the 31st May at the age of 91.
Bishop Clifford studied at Oriel College, Oxford, and trained for the priesthood at St Chad’s College, Durham. He was ordained in 1952.
Clifford Barker served his entire ordained ministry in the Diocese of York, initially as Curate in Falsgrave (Scarborough) and then Redcar before becoming Vicar of All Saints, Sculcoates (Hull) in 1957, also serving as Priest-in-Charge of St Silas, Sculcoates, from 1959 to 1961. He then served as Vicar of Rudby in Cleveland from 1965 to 1970, becoming Rural Dean of Stokesley in 1965. In 1970 he was appointed Vicar of St Olave, York, becoming a Canon and Prebendary of York Minster in 1976 and Rural Dean of York from 1971 to 1975. He was a Chaplain in the Territorial Army from 1958 to 1974.
Following his retirement in 1991 he became an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of York and for many years was a familiar figure presiding at Confirmation services and helping out at parishes in vacancy.
Bishop Clifford Barker’s funeral will take place at All Saints’ Church, Middlesbrough, at 1.30pm on Monday 12th June. Clergy are warmly invited to join with the congregation.
The present day Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd John Thomson, will attend the service, and Clifford Barker's immediate successor as Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Gordon Bates, will attend and take part.
- Ample car parking is available at The Cleveland Centre (TS1 2LS), directly opposite the church.