Draft:Graham Wale
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Graham Sidney (James) Wale (4 December 1945 – 8 October 2018) was an English bishop and Presiding Archbishop of the Liberal Catholic Church (LCC). He served as head of this denomination from 2005 until his death in 2018.
Early life and education
[edit]Wale was born in Hammersmith, London, as the only son of Sidney John Wale and Doris Winnifred (née Richens). He attended Langley Grammar School, where he developed an interest in history, and later trained as a draughtsman. During the 1960s he worked in engineering companies in London.[1].
Life in South Africa
[edit]In 1968 he married Patricia Heycock, with whom he had two sons. In 1975 the family moved to Pretoria, South Africa, where Wale worked as an engineer, including at the nuclear plant in Pelindaba. He later managed projects in air-conditioning firms. A third son was born there in 1981. In the mid-1980s he became involved in personal development programs (I AM Training), and in 1991 co-founded a company called Foundation for personal development seminars.
Entry into the Liberal Catholic Church
[edit]He first attended an LCC service in Pretoria in 1993, led by Bishop Johannes van Alphen. He quickly became involved, receiving minor orders, and was ordained priest in 1996[2]. In 1994 he married Kylann Descy in an LCC ceremony.
Episcopal ministry
[edit]In 1997 Wale returned to the United Kingdom to care for his parents and worked as a funeral director and chaplain. He was consecrated bishop on 15 April 2000 at St Francis of Assisi Church, Tekels Park (Surrey), by several LCC bishops, including Johannes van Alphen and J. P. Draaisma. At that time he adopted the name James[2].
In 2002 he was appointed regional bishop for Great Britain and Ireland. On Christmas 2005 he was elected Presiding Archbishop of the entire LCC and installed at St Michel’s Chapel in Paris. He was re-elected in 2012[3]. As head of the Church, Wale was active in Europe, America and Australia, and lived with his wife at Château de Bois Rabot (France), which served as a church centre[4] .
Death
[edit]Graham Sidney Wale died in France on 8 October 2018, aged 72.[5]. He was succeeded as Presiding Archbishop by William Downey of United States[3]
Legacy
[edit]His greatest contribution was the strengthening of the international unity of the Liberal Catholic Church, the promotion of personal spiritual development, and the preservation of the liturgical tradition, together with the active ordination of new priests and bishops.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ St Francis of Assisi, Tekels Park. "History of the Parish." Liberal Catholic Church. Accessed 28 September 2025.
- ^ a b KG VKK. "Apostolic Succession – Liberal Catholic Church bishops." Accessed 28 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Liberal Catholic Church Australia. "News from the LCC." Accessed 28 September 2025.
- ^ The Liberal Catholic Church. "History." Accessed 28 September 2025.
- ^ KG VKK. "UK Newsletter, Issue 3." Liberal Catholic Church in Great Britain. Accessed 28 September 2025.
External links
[edit]Category:1945 births Category:2018 deaths Category:English bishops Category:Liberal Catholic Church Category:People from Hammersmith Category:20th-century English clergy Category:21st-century English clergy