Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office
Suffragan Bishop of Plymouth: Nicholas McKinnel
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
First published: 2 December 2014
Part of: Community and societyThe Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Nicholas Howard Paul McKinnel to the Suffragan See of Plymouth.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Nicholas Howard Paul McKinnel, MA, Suffragan Bishop of Crediton, in the Diocese of Exeter, to the Suffragan See of Plymouth, in the Diocese of Exeter, in succession to the Right Reverend John Frank Ford, MA, on his resignation on 18 November 2013.
Notes for editors
The Right Reverend Nicholas McKinnel (aged 60), was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge and trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his curacy at Fulham Saint Mary North End in London Diocese from 1980 to 1983.
From 1983 to 1987 he was Chaplain at Liverpool University. From 1987 to 1988 he was Priest-in-Charge at Hatherleigh in Exeter Diocese. From 1988 to 1994 he was Rector at Hatherleigh, Meeth, Exbourne and Jacobstowe. From 1994 to 1995 he was Priest-in-Charge at Plymouth Saint Andrew with Saint Paul and Saint George. From 1995 to 2012 he was Team Rector of Plymouth Saint Andrew and St Paul, Stonehouse in the Diocese of Exeter, and from 2002 to 2012 he was Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral. Since 2012 he has been Suffragan Bishop of Crediton.
Prebendary Nicholas McKinnel is married and has 4 children. His interests include sport, the arts and the countryside.
From the Exeter diocesan website: New Bishop of Plymouth to be Rt Revd Nick McKinnell
Hmm… so is the plan to appoint a non-ordaining (of women) bishop to Crediton? If so, this is a plan to stop the Plymouth area always having a non-ordaining bishop while keeping one such in the diocese. (Or is it a plan to appoint a woman to Crediton as a woman at Plymouth would be too much progress too quickly?)
Or is the plan just to do the best thing for the Church of God in Devon?
Prior to John Ford’s appointment to Plymouth, the Bishops of Plymouth and Crediton both ordained women.
At least this is another older appointment, so he could do some good but won’t be around long enough to go to seed.
I see also that he is another countryside lover – presumably hill walking? It’s almost de rigueur these days.
Robin: I am surprised that someone who deals on a daily basis with Ministry Division should be so free of cynicism!
They could have at least updated his bio from when they used it in 2012: “*Prebendary* Nicholas McKinnell…”
This is the reverse of what happened in 1996 when Richard Hawkins (then Bishop of Plymouth) was translated to Crediton. This makes absolute strategic sense, in that Nick McKinnell knows Plymouth well, and will be able to consolidate the strategic relationships between the Diocese and the key influencers in wider society, as well as having a depth of insight when it comes to pastoral care of the clergy and parishes. I doubt that it has anything to do with who will – or will not – ordain women.
So, Bishop Nick has been translated to Plymouth. How convenient now that the legislation admitting women into the episcopate has been agreed. Anyone like to bet against a woman being the next ‘bishop’ of Crediton? It’s time to go I think.