Richard Chartres became the 132nd Bishop of London in November 1995. He was ordained in 1973 and served as a curate in St Andrew's Bedford. He was later appointed chaplain to Robert Runcie, then bishop of St Albans, and from 1980-84 he served as the Archbishop's chaplain at Lambeth and Canterbury.
He moved to St Stephen's Rochester Row in the Diocese of London in 1984. During this time he also served as director of ordinands for the Central Area and as Gresham Professor of Divinity. He was consecrated Bishop of Stepney in 1992.
He was later appointed Dean of HM Chapels Royal in 1996 and a privy counsellor. This accounts for the curious fact that the bishop of London is the only bishop who bears the title 'Rt Hon' in addition to the usual 'Rt Rev'. He is an ex officio member of the House of Lords.