Polkinghorne, John

▪ 2003

      When British physicist John Polkinghorne resigned one of the most prestigious academic positions in his field to become an Anglican priest, many of his colleagues were taken by surprise. The move, however, reflected his long-standing interest in matters of science and of faith. His contributions to these two worlds were recognized when he was awarded the 2002 Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities. Science and religion are “complementary to each other,” Polkinghorne said in accepting the honour. “The most important thing that they have in common is that both believe that there is a truth to be sought and found, a truth whose attainment comes through the pursuit of well-motivated belief.”

      John Charlton Polkinghorne was born on Oct. 16, 1930, in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Eng., to a quietly devout Church of England family. His mathematical ability was evident as a youngster. He earned a B.A. in mathematics as well as doctorates in quantum field theory and theoretical elementary particle physics from Trinity College, Cambridge. He was appointed lecturer in mathematical physics at the University of Edinburgh in 1956. He took the same position at Cambridge two years later and in 1968 was elevated to professor of mathematical physics.

      Polkinghorne's creation of mathematical models to calculate the paths of quantum particles was recognized in 1974 with his selection as a fellow of the Royal Society. Five years later Polkinghorne concluded that “I had done my little bit for science, and it was time to do something different.” He resigned his post at Cambridge and began theological studies. He was ordained in 1982 and assigned to a parish in South Bristol. He became vicar of a parish in Blean in 1984 and two years later was appointed fellow, dean, and chaplain of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1989 he was appointed president of Queens' College, Cambridge, from which he retired in 1996.

      In 1983 Polkinghorne published The Way the World Is, in which he explained how a thinking person can be a Christian. It was the first of several works on the relationship between science and religion. The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-Up Thinker appeared in 1994 and Faith, Science and Understanding in 2000. Polkinghorne was one of the founders of the Society of Ordained Scientists, a preaching order of the Anglican Communion. He was also a member of the Science Research Council, the Doctrine Commission of the Church of England, and the Human Genetics Advisory Commission. Polkinghorne was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for distinguished service to science, religion, learning, and medical ethics.

Darrell J. Turner

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