Ian Cundy

Ian Patrick Martyn Cundy (23 April 1945 – 7 May 2009) was a Church of England cleric who served successively as area Bishop of Lewes and Bishop of Peterborough.

Background[edit]

Born in Sherborne, Dorset, on 23 April 1945, he was the son of Henry Martyn Cundy and his wife Kathleen Ethel Hemmings.^[1] He was educated at Monkton Combe School in Somerset and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and theology in 1967, and obtained a Master of Arts.^[2] Cundy made his general ordination exam in Tyndale Hall, Trinity College, Bristol in 1969.^[3]

Career[edit]

Cundy was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1969 (28 September), by Trevor Huddleston, Bishop of Stepney, at All Saints Church, Benhilton,^[4] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (27 September 1970), by Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral;^[5] he served first as assistant curate of Christ Church, New Malden until 1973 and subsequently lecturer and chaplain of Oak Hill Theological College in Southgate, London until 1977.^[3] A year later, he was nominated team rector in Mortlake and East Sheen, a post he held until 1983.^[6] Thereafter Cundy became warden of Cranmer Hall, Durham until 1992,^[6] when he was appointed area Bishop of Lewes in the Diocese of Chichester.^[7] He was consecrated a bishop on 3 July 1992 by George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey,^[8] He was enthroned as the 37th Bishop of Peterborough in 1996, where he remained until his death in May 2009.^[9]

Cundy served as a member of the board of governors of Monkton Combe School from 1986 to 1995.^[10]

Cancer and death[edit]

In November 2007, it was announced that Cundy was undergoing treatment for pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer.^[11] In October 2008, he announced his intention to take early retirement in July 2009 due to ill health.^[12] Cundy died on 7 May 2009 at the age of 64, after collapsing on his way to a family event.^[13][14] He was survived by his wife, Josephine Katherine Boyd whom he married in 1969, and their children, two sons and one daughter.^[2] Following a Eucharist in Peterborough Cathedral, Cundy was buried, a week after his death.^[15]

Cundy lecture series[edit]

A lecture series was established in his name at Cranmer Hall, Durham. The 2011 lecture was given by Mary Tanner.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Christ Church New Malden
• "Order of Service for the funeral of The Right Reverend Ian Patrick Martyn Cundy, 1945–2009" (PDF). Retrieved 18 August 2009. ^{[dead link]}