Nick Mercer | |
---|---|
Archdeacon of London | |
Church | Church of England |
Diocese | Diocese of London |
In office | 2014 until 2016 |
Predecessor | David Meara |
Successor | Luke Miller |
Other post(s) | Vicar General (2007–2017) |
Personal details | |
Born | Nicholas Stanley Mercer 25 December 1949 |
Nationality | British |
Denomination | Anglicanism |
Education | Worthing High School, West Sussex |
Alma mater |
Nicholas Stanley Mercer (born 25 December 1949) is a British Anglican priest who was the Vicar general for the Diocese of London from 2007 to 2017; [1] he was additionally Archdeacon of London from 2014 until 2016. [2]
Mercer was born on Christmas Day 1949 and raised at Shoreham-by-Sea, one of seven children in a family living in a small three-bedroom home, and was a member of the town's local Baptist church. [3] He was named Nicholas after Saint Nicholas of Myra, Santa Claus. [3] He was educated at primary school in his home town, Worthing High School, [3] and Selwyn College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1972 (and Master of Arts in 1976). [4] Remaining at Selwyn College, he studied for, and was awarded, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education as a qualified teacher in 1973. [4]
Following a short spell of teaching at Lancing College, [3] an independent boarding school located close to his family home, he enrolled at Spurgeon's College, graduating with a second BA degree in 1978. [4] He entered the ministry of the Baptist denomination, [3] beginning as a student minister at a large Baptist church in Enfield, north London, [5] and subsequently as Assistant Minister at Upton Vale Baptist Church, Torquay; later studying at London Bible College (where he was the Laing Scholar), obtaining a Master of Philosophy degree in 1986. [4] [3]
Mercer's theological studies eventually led him from the Baptist Union into the Church of England, where he self-identified as an anglo-catholic, later stating that he had been a "closet anglo-catholic" since his university days at Selwyn College. [3] Following training at Cranmer Hall, Durham, he was ordained as a deacon in 1995, and as a priest shortly afterwards, in the same year. [4] In his autobiography, published in the anthology "The post-evangelical debate" (1997), Mercer speaks of a growing realisation that he was no longer a conservative evangelical, despite his continued deep Biblical faith. [3] After curacies in Northwood Hills and Pimlico he was Director of Ministry for the Diocese of London from 2003 to 2007. He was Diocesan Director of Ordinands (overseeing a team of Directors) from 2007 to 2017. He was a Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral from 2008 (around the time of his appointment as Vicar general) to 2017. He was also honorary priest in charge of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate in the City of London from 2015 to 2016. [6]
He retired in 2017, on reaching the customary Church of England retirement age of 68 years. [4] He was appointed an emeritus Prebendary of St Paul's cathedral, and an emeritus Archdeacon of London, on his retirement. [7]
Nick Mercer | |
---|---|
Archdeacon of London | |
Church | Church of England |
Diocese | Diocese of London |
In office | 2014 until 2016 |
Predecessor | David Meara |
Successor | Luke Miller |
Other post(s) | Vicar General (2007–2017) |
Personal details | |
Born | Nicholas Stanley Mercer 25 December 1949 |
Nationality | British |
Denomination | Anglicanism |
Education | Worthing High School, West Sussex |
Alma mater |
Nicholas Stanley Mercer (born 25 December 1949) is a British Anglican priest who was the Vicar general for the Diocese of London from 2007 to 2017; [1] he was additionally Archdeacon of London from 2014 until 2016. [2]
Mercer was born on Christmas Day 1949 and raised at Shoreham-by-Sea, one of seven children in a family living in a small three-bedroom home, and was a member of the town's local Baptist church. [3] He was named Nicholas after Saint Nicholas of Myra, Santa Claus. [3] He was educated at primary school in his home town, Worthing High School, [3] and Selwyn College, Cambridge, graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1972 (and Master of Arts in 1976). [4] Remaining at Selwyn College, he studied for, and was awarded, the Postgraduate Certificate in Education as a qualified teacher in 1973. [4]
Following a short spell of teaching at Lancing College, [3] an independent boarding school located close to his family home, he enrolled at Spurgeon's College, graduating with a second BA degree in 1978. [4] He entered the ministry of the Baptist denomination, [3] beginning as a student minister at a large Baptist church in Enfield, north London, [5] and subsequently as Assistant Minister at Upton Vale Baptist Church, Torquay; later studying at London Bible College (where he was the Laing Scholar), obtaining a Master of Philosophy degree in 1986. [4] [3]
Mercer's theological studies eventually led him from the Baptist Union into the Church of England, where he self-identified as an anglo-catholic, later stating that he had been a "closet anglo-catholic" since his university days at Selwyn College. [3] Following training at Cranmer Hall, Durham, he was ordained as a deacon in 1995, and as a priest shortly afterwards, in the same year. [4] In his autobiography, published in the anthology "The post-evangelical debate" (1997), Mercer speaks of a growing realisation that he was no longer a conservative evangelical, despite his continued deep Biblical faith. [3] After curacies in Northwood Hills and Pimlico he was Director of Ministry for the Diocese of London from 2003 to 2007. He was Diocesan Director of Ordinands (overseeing a team of Directors) from 2007 to 2017. He was a Prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral from 2008 (around the time of his appointment as Vicar general) to 2017. He was also honorary priest in charge of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate in the City of London from 2015 to 2016. [6]
He retired in 2017, on reaching the customary Church of England retirement age of 68 years. [4] He was appointed an emeritus Prebendary of St Paul's cathedral, and an emeritus Archdeacon of London, on his retirement. [7]