Rt Rev Martin Seeley, bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocese receives doctorate from US Yale University

A bishop has been awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his leadership and strengthening ties between the UK and US.

The Rt Rev Martin Seeley, bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich diocese was presented with the Doctor of Divinity degree at Yale University.

Rt Rev Seeley, who lives in Ipswich received the honorary doctorate from the Episcopal Church's seminary.

He said: "The ceremony was very moving, and I had to pinch myself to realise it was to me that they were giving this honour.

"I am so grateful to Berkeley, to all my colleagues in theological education, and across the churches through the years, both here and in the US."

The award was in recognition of Rt Rev Seeley's leadership in the church of England, in theological education and strengthening of ties between the church in the UK and the US.

He first gave a speech in the American University, based in Connecticut then was presented with the doctorate.

Rt Rev Seeley first studied theology at Cambridge and then started training for ordained ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, in 1976.

He then attended Union Theological Seminary, New York City, from which he graduated with a Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1978.

He returned to England and took up a curate’s position in Scunthorpe before returning to the United States in 1980.

There he was a curate for five years at the Church of the Epiphany and Assistant Director of Trinity Institute at Trinity Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City.

Then he became Executive Director of the Thompson Centre, an ecumenical lay and clergy education programme in St Louis, Missouri, from 1985 to 1990.