THE founder of Christians Against Poverty, Dr John Kirkby, was among the churchpeople honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, which was released on Saturday. He was appointed CBE for services to poverty relief.
“I am absolutely bowled over to be receiving such an honour, and it just shows what God can do,” Dr Kirkby said. “I’d like to dedicate this to all our incredible supporters and volunteers, staff, and to our clients. I hope that it also shows what God can do with one ordinary bloke from Bradford who meets an extraordinary God and says ‘Yes’.”
The footballer Jermain Defoe was appointed OBE for services to his foundation, which helps children in need in St Lucia. He says on his website: “My relationship with God has been there from an early age as I attended church every Sunday without fail. I truly believe that my football skills are a gift from God.” He said that he was “truly humbled” to receive the honour.
The Revd Dr Ralph Waller, a Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and a former Principal of Harris Manchester College, was appointed Knight Commander for services to education. He is an Ecumenical Canon of Christ Church, Oxford and a Methodist minister.
The chief executive and secretary of the Royal Academy, Charles Saumarez Smith, was knighted. Mr Smith was formerly the director of the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery, and his great-grandfather was Bishop of Sydney in the late 19th century. His father, William Saumarez Smith was a administrator for the C of E.
Also knighted was Simon Schama, the Jewish historian who has written extensively on art and European history (Books, 13 April).
Among the senior honours, Mary The Lady Nicholas Gordon Lennox LVO, a vice-president of the the National Churches Trust and lady-in-waiting to Princess Alexandra, was appointed CVO.
Philip James Chatwin, the Keeper of the Closet (a vestry officer), HM Chapels Royal, St James’s Palace, was awarded the RVM, while Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the soprano from New Zealand was appointed a CH. Dame Kiri is portrayed as St Cecilia in a stained-glass window at St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin.
Appointed OBE were Kumar Raval, the founder of Faith in Leadership, for services to leadership education and interfaith cohesion; Rosalind Miller, the development director of Islington Faiths Forum, for services to interfaith cohesion; and Patrick Derham, the headmaster of Westminster School.
Among the MBEs were David Heather, head teacher of Pulford Aided Church of England Lower School, Bedfordshire, for services to education; the Revd Colin Hodgetts, the honorary Priest-in-Charge of St Helen’s, Abbotsham, for services to Refugees through the Refugee Action Charity; and Sandra MacDonald, Captain of the 34th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade.
Also appointed MBE are the Revd Tom Jackson, for services to young people and the community in London, where he is chief executive of Resurgo Trust, which runs the Spear initiative; Christine Shaw, a governor of Eaglesfield Paddle C of E Academy, for services to education.
Leveson Granville Andrew Campbell was awarded the BEM for services to the C of E and communities in East Suffolk; as was Lily Whymer, for services to the Church and community in Stetchworth, Cambridgeshire.
Also awarded the BEM were Edward Hudson, the founder of Bibles for Children, for services to education; and Gordon Simmonds, for services to the church community in Rochford, Essex. Mr Simmonds is lay chair of Rochford deanery and a lay canon of Chelmsford. Susan Jones, was appointed BEM for services to foster-care children and the Church; and Elizabeth Marshall was also awarded the BEM for services to the community in Great and Little Chesterfield, Essex. She is a Reader and volunteers at All Saints’, Great Chesterford.