Peter Broadbent grew up in the Willesden Area where he has been the bishop since 2001. He was educated at Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood, Middlesex and read English at Jesus College, Cambridge. He became a Christian at 14 through ‘Crusaders’, a Christian youth organisation. He trained for the ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham.
His first parish job was as Curate to George Carey, the previous Archbishop of Canterbury, when he was Vicar of St Nicholas, Durham. Pete returned to the Diocese of London in 1980 to be Curate of Emmanuel Church, Holloway and the Bishop of Stepney’s Chaplain for Mission.
In 1983 he became Anglican Chaplain to the Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University) as well as honorary curate of St Mary’s, Islington. He moved to the Willesden Area in 1989 to become Vicar of Trinity St Michael, Harrow and was made Area Dean of Harrow in 1994. The following year he was appointed as Archdeacon of Northolt, working with the former Bishop of Willesden.
Pete Broadbent has served as a member of General Synod on and off since 1985 and was a member of its Standing Committee. He chaired the Business Committee of Synod from 1996 – 2000 and was also a founder member of the Archbishops’ Council. He oversees the national Simplification process under the Renewal and Reform programme within the Church of England.
Formerly an Islington Councillor and Chair of its Development and Planning Committee, Peter Broadbent is a member of the Labour Party.
Married to Sarah, a teacher, with a grown up son and daughter-in-law, Simon and Irenie, and two grandsons and a granddaughter, Peter Broadbent is a lifelong supporter and season ticket holder at Tottenham Hotspur FC. He enjoys theatre, film, popular music and real ale.
