Jenkins, David Edward (1925– )

English Anglican clergyman and theologian who, while bishop of Durham 1984–94, offended Church of England traditionalist opinion by questioning the literal interpretation of the Resurrection and the Virgin birth. From 1994 he became honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of Ripon and Leeds. He has written numerous books on theology.

Born in Bromley in Kent, he was educated at St Dunstan's College, London, and Oxford University. Having lectured in theology at Oxford and been Chaplain and Fellow of Queen's College, he then became a director of studies at the World Council of Churches in Geneva 1969–73, director of the William Temple Foundation 1973–80, and professor of theology at the University of Leeds 1979–84. The controversy over his selection as bishop of Durham from 1984 centred on his views about the literal interpretation of the scriptures. He was also noted for speaking his mind on political and social issues of the day – particularly his championing of the coalminers in their year-long industrial dispute with the Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher 1984–85. In 2005 Jenkins was one of the first clergymen in the Church of England to bless a civil partnership between two gay men.

He was described by former prime minister Thatcher as a ‘cuckoo in the establishment nest’, a comment he alluded to in the title of his memoirs, The Calling of a Cuckoo (2002).