Charles John Klyberg (1931–2020)

Early formation and Anglican ministry

Klyberg trained for Anglican ministry at Lincoln Theological College, a Church of England theological institution with a long history of preparing candidates for parish and diocesan ministry. After ordination and a period of parish work and other appointments, he was consecrated as a bishop and in 1985 became the Bishop of Fulham, a suffragan see within the Diocese of London. In that post he carried out episcopal duties common to suffragan bishops, including pastoral oversight, confirmations and representing the diocese on various occasions.

Roles and responsibilities

As Bishop of Fulham from 1985 until his retirement in 1996, Klyberg served alongside diocesan structures and supported clergy and laity within his delegated area of responsibility. Like other Anglican bishops he preached, confirmed, ordained deacons and priests (where delegated), and participated in diocesan governance and synodical life. His episcopate coincided with a period of theological and institutional debate within the Church of England about liturgy, doctrine and ministry.

Controversy and public attention

In 1994 the gay rights campaign group OutRage! published a list that included Klyberg among several senior Church of England figures it alleged were homosexual but closeted. The action provoked widespread discussion about privacy, the pastoral responsibilities of clergy, and how the church dealt with sexuality among its ministers. The episode is one of several public controversies from that period that focused attention on the personal lives of church leaders and on broader questions of transparency and discipline.

Reception into the Roman Catholic Church

After retiring from his Anglican post in 1996, Klyberg was received into the Roman Catholic Church. He later undertook the necessary formation and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest. In recognition of his service, Pope John Paul II appointed him a Prelate of Honour, an honorary title often styled as "Monsignor." His reception and subsequent ministry exemplify a path followed by some Anglican clergy and bishops who, for theological or personal reasons, sought full communion with Rome in the late 20th century.

Legacy and death

Klyberg's life spanned roles in two Christian communions and intersected with several debates that shaped late 20th-century Anglicanism in Britain. He died in London on 17 January 2020 at the age of 88. For further factual detail on his Anglican ministry see sources on the Bishopric of Fulham and clergy records, for information about the 1994 publicity campaign see reports by contemporary campaign groups, for context on his reception into the Catholic Church see materials relating to Papal honours and clergy reception, and for records concerning his death see local notices in London.

• Born: 29 July 1931
• Anglican episcopate: Bishop of Fulham, 1985–1996
• Received into Roman Catholic Church: 1996 (after retirement)
• Died: 17 January 2020, London