Graeme Knowles

This article is about the bishop. For the cricketer, see Graham Knowles.

The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles CVO
Dean of St Paul's
Knowles in 2009
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of London
In office	2007–2011
Predecessor	John Moses
Successor	David Ison
Other post(s)	Acting Dean of St Edmundsbury (2017–2018) Bishop of Sodor and Man (2003–2007) Dean of Carlisle (1999–2003) Archdeacon of Portsmouth (1993–1999)
Orders
Ordination	1974 (deacon); 1975 (priest)
Consecration	4 December 2003
Personal details
Born	(1951-09-25) 25 September 1951 Woburn, Bedfordshire
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Stan & Grace
Spouse	Susan
Alma mater	King's College London

Graeme Paul Knowles CVO (born 25 September 1951) is a retired Anglican bishop. He served latterly as the Acting Dean of St Edmundsbury, having previously served as Bishop of Sodor and Man and as Dean of St Paul's.

Biography

Knowles was educated at Dunstable Grammar School and King's College London, spending his final year of theological studies at St Augustine's College, Canterbury.

Knowles served a curacy at St Peter-in-Thanet in Broadstairs, Kent from 1974 to 1979. From 1979 he was precentor and senior curate of Leeds Parish Church before moving to become precentor and a canon residentiary at Portsmouth Cathedral in 1981. He was also a chaplain during his time at the cathedral and held the post of chapter clerk from 1985 to 1987. He became the vicar of Leigh Park in 1987, additionally taking on the role of Rural Dean of Havant from 1990. He was appointed Archdeacon of Portsmouth in 1993 and held the post until 1999.

Knowles was Dean of Carlisle from 1999 until he moved to the Isle of Man as Bishop of Sodor and Man in 2003, replacing Noël Jones. He was consecrated a bishop by David Hope, Archbishop of York at York Minster on 4 December 2003 and installed at Peel Cathedral on 17 January 2004. He became Dean of St Paul's in 2007 in succession to John Moses who retired in 2006.

Knowles was installed as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, London on 1 October 2007 after Letters Patent were issued on 20 September 2007. He resigned from St Paul's on 1 November 2011 as a result of the reactions to the Chapter's resolution to evict the Occupy London protesters from cathedral land.

Knowles is also an honorary chaplain in the Royal Naval Reserve and a patron of the Burgon Society.

After leaving St Paul's, Knowles retired to Bury St Edmunds, where he was licensed as an honorary assistant bishop and appointed registrar of Sons of the Clergy, a charity supporting the families of Anglican clergy.

On 11 January 2023, Knowles was installed as Acting Dean of Chichester following the departure of Stephen Waine. The Diocese of Chichester had earlier announced that Knowles would take up the role until April 2023.

Styles

• The Reverend Graeme Knowles (1974–1981)
• The Venerable Graeme Knowles (1993–1999)
• The Very Reverend Graeme Knowles (1999–2003)
• The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles (2003–2012)
• The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles CVO (2012–present)