Retired Lords Spiritual

This section offers links to the historic pages of those bishops who previously sat as Lords Spiritual but no longer do so. It dates back to the beginning of 2009.

Retirement is compulsory for all bishops who reach the age of 70. When a diocesan bishop who is also a Lord Spiritual retires from his See, he automatically loses the entitlement that accompanies being a diocesan bishop, to sit in the House of Lords. Retired Lords Spiritual retain some privileges of the House, which enable them to sit in on debates (although not sit on or speak from the Bishops' Bench) and use some of the research and refreshment facilities. Former Archbishops have traditionally been awarded life peerages on retirement and have sat in the Lords as crossbenchers (that is, as independent, non-aligned peers). Other Lords Spiritual, who are not Archbishops, are very occasionally awarded life peerages on their retirement if they are judged to have made a significant contribution to the life and work of the Upper House.