Wright, Nicholas Thomas (1948– )

English cleric and academic, and bishop of Durham from 2003. He is generally considered to represent the moderate evangelical wing of the Church. As a renowned Church of England author on the New Testament, he has written extensively, producing many scholarly works including Jesus and the Victory of God and The Resurrection of the Son of God, as well as titles on a more popular level such as The Challenge of Jesus and commentaries on the Bible. In 2005 he made known his opposition to new UK legislation recognizing civil partnerships between same-sex couples.

Wright was born in Northumberland and educated at Sedbergh School in Yorkshire and Exeter College, Oxford University, where he graduated in classics and theology. Having subsequently studied for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, 1971–75, he became a research fellow and junior chaplain at Merton College from 1975 to 1978. In the following three years, he was a fellow and chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge, before moving to McGill University in Montreal, Canada, in 1981 to become assistant professor of New Testament studies. In 1986 he returned to Oxford as a lecturer at Worcester College until his appointment as Dean of Lichfield Cathedral 1994–99. Having then served as canon theologian of Westminster Abbey in London from 2000, he was elevated to the position of bishop of Durham in 2003.