Colin Fletcher (bishop)

The Right Reverend

Colin Fletcher
The Right Reverend ; Colin Fletcher
Bishop of Dorchester
Diocese	Diocese of Oxford
In office	2000–2020
Predecessor	Anthony Russell
Successor	Gavin Collins
Other post(s)	Chaplain to George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (1993–2000); Acting Bishop of Oxford (2006–2007 & 2014–2016)
Orders
Ordination	1975 (deacon); 1976 (priest); by Ross Hook
Consecration	4 October 2000; by George Carey
Personal details
Born	17 November 1950
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	(m. 1980)
Children	three
Alma mater	Trinity College, Oxford

Colin William Fletcher (born 17 November 1950) is a British retired Anglican bishop. He served as area Bishop of Dorchester in the Diocese of Oxford.

Early life and ministry

Fletcher was educated at Marlborough and Trinity College, Oxford. After studying at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford he was ordained into the Church of England: he was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1975 (20 September), in Bradford Cathedral and ordained a priest the following Michaelmas (19 September 1976), at Holy Trinity Church, Skipton; both times by Ross Hook, Bishop of Bradford. His ordained ministry began with a curacy at Shipley.

Fletcher was then a tutor at Wycliffe Hall and after that Vicar of Holy Trinity in Margate for eight years, before becoming chaplain to George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury — a post he held for seven years. During his time as chaplain, he was co-chair of the Lambeth Group, which was set up to advise the British government on the "spiritual aspects of the millennium".

Fletcher was appointed to the episcopate in 2000, succeeding Anthony Russell on his appointment as Bishop of Ely. He was consecrated as a bishop in Westminster Abbey by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, on 4 October 2000 (St Francis of Assisi's day). Following the retirement of Richard Harries as Bishop of Oxford, Fletcher was Acting Bishop of Oxford until the appointment of John Pritchard (2 June 2006 – 23 March 2007); in 2014 he became acting bishop again following Pritchard's retirement (31 October 2014 – September 2016). Fletcher announced his intention to retire on 4 October 2020.

In retirement, he has been licensed as an honorary assistant bishop of the Diocese of Oxford since 2021.

Fletcher was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Millennium Honours List. In 2008 he was awarded the Cross of St Augustine, the second highest international award for outstanding service to the Anglican Communion, by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury.

A keen ornithologist, Fletcher married in 1980 and has three children.

His brother is Philip Fletcher (1946-2022), a reader and retired public servant.