Gordon Kuhrt


Gordon Wilfred Kuhrt is an Anglican priest and author. He was the Archdeacon of Lewisham from 1989 to 1996. He has served a member of the General Synod of the Church of England from 1986 to 1996. Afterwards, he was Director of Ministry for the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England. He is now retired, married to Olive Kuhrt and has 3 sons and 10 grandchildren.
Kuhrt was educated at Colfe's Grammar School, London University and Middlesex University. He was ordained in 1967 and served curacies at Illogan and Wallington. He held incumbencies at St John the Baptist Shenstone and Emmanuel, South Croydon.

Early Life

In his autobiographical book, Life’s Not Always Easy, Kuhrt tells of his childhood. He was born in the Indian city of Madras during the Second World War, which prevented his parents from returning to England. He was born with clubbed feet, and then, still in India, he contracted poliomyelitis at the age of 15 months, which exacerbated his health issues. The family finally returned to England in January 1945, and were able to see doctor Paul Brand and he then underwent treatment in Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London. In 1946, his parents returned to India to the mission field, but were unable to take their son, owing to the ongoing treatment. For the next five years the young Gordon Kuhrt had to live with foster parents, the Thorpes. He did not see his parents again until he was 10.

Ministry

Kuhrt was ordained in 1967 and served curacies at Illogan and Wallington. He held incumbencies at St John the Baptist Shenstone and Emmanuel, South Croydon. He was made a member of the General Synod of the Church of England in 1986, and then became Archdeacon of Lewisham in 1989 and remained in that post until 1996. In that year he was made Director of Ministry for the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England. He retired in 2011, but remains Honorary Curate for Tredington.