Bishop Philip studied history at the University of York, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1988 when he started to explore a vocation to priestly ministry. He spent a year working as a pastoral assistant in Redhouse, Sunderland, before preparing for ordination at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA degree in 1991. He was ordained as a priest in 1993. Bishop Philip then went on to serve as curate at Saint Mary and Saint Peter’s in Sunderland until 1996, after which he became the vicar of Holy Trinity in Hartlepool until 2002, during which time he was also Hartlepool’s area dean (2000-2002).
In 2002 he moved to Norfolk where he spent six years as Priest Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, ministering to pilgrims and overseeing the regeneration of the Shrine’s buildings and grounds. In 2008 he became team rector in the Parish of Old St Pancras and team vicar at St Michael’s Church, Camden Town.
He was consecrated as Bishop of Burnley in February 2015.
Christmas message from @cofelancs @BpBurnley Philip North watch now on our YouTube Channel https://t.co/74Fc9BmbXi @c_of_e #joytotheworld pic.twitter.com/prFV2RC84q
— CofE in Lancashire (@cofelancs) December 23, 2016