Degrees Awarded
One of the powers which the Archbishop has by virtue of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 is the power to award degrees. Although these are commonly termed “Lambeth Degrees”, the Archbishop is not a university but the degrees awarded are full degrees of the Realm.
The degrees are normally awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in the service of the Christian Church, but a number of Master of Arts degrees and Doctorates are awarded after examination. Some of the degrees awarded in recent years are shown below.
Doctor of Laws – Charles George KC
22 July 2026
Charles Richard George KC, MA, in recognition of your distinguished and important contributions to the body of ecclesiastical law and the life of the Church including as a Diocesan Chancellor, Dean of the Arches Court of Canterbury and Auditor of the Chancery Court of York and Master of the Faculties
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Stephen Stewart
24 September 2025
Stephen John Stewart, Clerk, BA(Hons, DipHE, CertM, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd James Crockford
24 September 2025
James Robert William Crockford, Clerk, BA(Hons), MA, MPhil, FRSM, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Master of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Canon Erik Peeters
24 September 2025
Erik Christian Peeters, Clerk, BA, BA(Hons), MA, PhD, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Master of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Steve Muneza
24 September 2025
Steve Muneza, Clerk, MA, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Stephen Proudlove
20 September 2024
Stephen Proudlove, Clerk, BA, MA, CertHE, CertTh, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Justin Pottinger
20 September 2024
Justin Charles Edward Pottinger, Clerk, BA, MA, MTh, PgDip, PGCE, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Jitesh Patel
20 September 2024
Jitesh Krisnakant Patel, Clerk, BA, MA, MPhys, PGCE, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Ian Mobsby
20 September 2024
Ian Jonathan Mobsby, Clerk, BSc, MA, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Jonathan Douglas
20 September 2024
Jonathan William Dixon Douglas, Clerk, BSc, MA, MTh, PgDip, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – Dr Stephen John Duckett
14 September 2022
Stephen John Duckett BEc MHA, PhD, DBA, DSc, FASSA, FAHMS, FAICD due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation on the aforesaid subject having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Reverend Peter Charles Jones
14 September 2022
Peter Charles Jones clerk, BA, MA, PGCE, MRIPH due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation on the aforesaid subject having been approved.
Doctor of Divinity – The Most Reverend Dr Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon
6 August 2022
Josiah Atkins Idowu-Fearon B.A, M.A, Ph.D, D.Min in recognition of his major theological contribution to the Anglican communion and inter-faith relations
Doctor of Civil Law – Canon Vivian John Howard Rees
29 November 2021
Vivian John Howard Rees clerk, LLB, MA, MPhil in recognition of your distinguished contributions to the life of the church at parochial, diocesan, provincial, national and international levels as Registrar of the diocese of Oxford and of the Province of Canterbury, legal adviser to the Anglican Consultative Council and convenor of the legal advisors’ network
Doctor of Divinity – Eeva Maria Margareta John
16 September 2021
Eeva Maria Margareta John BA (Hons) Ma, DPhil, DpTheol, MA in recognition of your extraordinary and novel creative contribution to the Church of England and also to the wider discipline of practical theology
Doctor of Divinity – The Right Reverend Dr Christopher John Cocksworth
16 September 2021
Christopher John Cocksworth B.A, PhD, Hon D.D., PGCE in recognition of his work of leadership in pastoral theology and capacity to produce a huge contribution to the global church out of a diversity of disciplines
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Reverend Michael Hopkins
27 September 2021
Michael Hopkins Bsc, BTh, MPhil, PGCE due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation on the aforesaid subject having been approved
Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – Canon Paul Rhys Williams
27 September 2021
Paul Rhys Williams clerk, M.Theol, FCMS, CStJ, due examination having been made as to his proficiency in the study of Theology and his dissertation on the aforesaid subject having been approved