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General Information
John Polkinghorne was a physicist, theologist, and priest born in 1930 in Somerset England. He was raised by an Anglican family, and went off to Trinity College where he earned under and postgraduate degrees in mathematics, and a doctorate in physics. He held several distinguished roles in his life, to include President of Queen's College of Cambridge University, and Canon Theologian of Liverpool Cathedral. He was married to his wife Ruth for 51 years, until her death in 2006. -
PhD in Physics, and work in Academia
In 1955 John C. Polkinghorne graduated with his PhD in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. He became a Mathematical Physics professor in 1968, and centered his work the theoretical physics of elementary particles. Dr. Polkinghorne served an important role in the discovery of the quark, the smallest (currently known) particle of matter. “The Revd Canon John Charlton Polkinghorne.” a short story from Queen's College official website -
Becoming a Priest
In 1979, he decided that his best years of mathematical pphysics were behind him, and it was time to move onto something else. A lifelong Christian, he began his studies at Westcott House of Cambridge University. Completed his studies and was ordained a priest of the Anglican church in 1982. He climbed through several roles as a priest, reaching the office of Canon Theologian of Liverpool Cathedral (1994-2005). An interview w/ John Polkinghorne by Paul Fitzgerald -
Reconciling two Careers
In 2008, Dr. JCP published an autobiography where he reconciles his two careers, which are often seen as "at odds" with one another. He is quoted as saying "I am a scientist-theologian, someone who is both a physicist and a priest - a statement that sometimes arouses the kind of curiosity or suspicion that might follow the claim to be a vegetarian butcher."
The Compatibility between Science and Religion
Did God Create from Nothing? -
From Physicist to Priest : An Autobiography
Polkinghorne, J C. From Physicist to Priest : An Autobiography. Eugene, Oregon, Cascade Books, 2008.