On 14 November 1995, Wilkes was appointed an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during the period 1st October 1994 to 31st March 1995". In the
2008 New Year Honours, he was appointed a
Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). On 16 January 2005, Wilkes was made an Honorary
Ecumenical Canon of
Ripon Cathedral by
John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds. He was the first Methodist minister to become a canon of that
Anglican cathedral. ==References==