Press release from Number 10
Suffragan Bishop of Repton: Janet Elizabeth McFarlane
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
First published: 26 February 2016The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Janet Elizabeth McFarlane to the Suffragan See of Repton in the diocese of Derby.
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Janet Elizabeth McFarlane, BMedSci, BA, Archdeacon of Norwich, in the diocese of Norwich, to the Suffragan See of Repton in the diocese of Derby in succession to the Right Reverend Humphrey Ivo John Southern, MA, on his resignation on 1 April 2015.
Notes for editors
The Venerable Jan McFarlane (aged 51) was educated first at Sheffield University, where she trained as a speech and language therapist, and then at St John’s College, Durham; and she trained for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
Jan served her first curacy at Stafford in Lichfield Diocese from 1993 to 1996 and was among the first women to be ordained to the priesthood in 1994. From 1996 to 1999 she was Chaplain and Minor Canon at Ely Cathedral. Since 1999 she has been Director of Communications in the Diocese of Norwich. From 2001 to 2009 Jan served as Chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich and has been Archdeacon of Norwich since 2009. She combines her role as Archdeacon with the posts of Director of Communications and Warden of Readers. She has been a member of the General Synod since 2005.
Jan is married to Andrew Ridoutt, a television cameraman. Her interests include exploring the beautiful British countryside, beaches and country pubs with Andrew and their rather mischievous Miniature Schnauzer, Edith. Jan has contributed to several books of prayers and reflections for Church House Publishing and broadcasts regularly on local radio.
The Derby diocesan website has Queen Approves Nomination of First Female Bishop in Derbyshire and East Midlands.
Jan McFarlane will be consecrated as a Bishop on Wednesday 29 June.
These married Evangelical women will make a huge contribution to the justice agenda / ‘option for the poor’. Just like the men…
Justice agenda – what justice agenda ?
Only one more to go and the C of E women bishops will have reached double figures. Who will be Number 10 – Oxford perhaps? So many in such a short period of time but isn’t it about time that another Black or Asian was consecrated as a bishop of the Established Church? The last such consecration was of the present Ebor way back in 2002 when he became Area Bishop of Stepney. Maybe the Archbishop of Uganda would like to be translated to an English See. Again, Oxford is vacant – now that really would put the cat among… Read more »
Fr David, I think Rose Hudson – Wilkin would be an outstanding choice. Fr Paul
Laurence – are we talking about the same person? You seem to know her mind very well…
Pedant alert
John Sentamu was consecrated Bishop of Stepney in1996 and translated to Birmingham in 2002
One more woman to go and the English (9 since 2014) will have outpaced the Canadians (9 since 1994) in the appointment of female bishops. A few more to go to become the world leaders (USA, 22 since 1988). And coming just days after Karen Gorham’s consecration at Westminster Abbey, this appointment continues the year-long tradition that there’s always a female bishop-elect in the wings …
Charles you seem to (think you) know mine…
Thank you for that correction – always good to get the facts right. 1996 – that’s 20 years ago and, if I am not mistaken, no Black or Asian has been consecrated since then? The Archbishop of York can’t be that far off retirement and when he goes we shall be left with a very monochrome episcopate.
Father David, according to the excellent resource in such things, http://peterowen.org.uk/articles/bishops.html , the Archbishop of York was born on 10 June 1949 and so has a little over three years before reaching the prescribed age of retirement.
RPNewark – I think that Archbishop Sentamu could actually soldier on until June 9th 2020, the Eve of his 71st birthday, which makes it nearer to four more possible years in office prior to compulsory retirement. With the news that 40% of the Stipendiary Clergy will reach retiring age within the next decade – I wonder if the powers that be regret bringing in the cut off point at 70 years of age? However, Reform and Renewal – sorry – Renewal and Reform has as one of its laudable aims – the aspiration to increase the number of ordinands by… Read more »
RPNewark – Thank you for pointing me in the direction of the list of English Diocesans and their ages. There I discover that only 10 Diocesans (approximately 25%) are older than I am (I used to feel more secure when we had bishops who had fought in the War – men like Runcie and Phipps, both of whom were awarded the M. C.). Having been born on 17th June 1952 (St. Botolph’s Day) I find that only Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Derby, Hereford, London, Newcastle, Norwich, Sodor & Man and York are older than me! I further discover that the list… Read more »
O come, Fr David, nothing beats train spotting.
I make it now that there are more female bishops than male bishops of the “Society”.That has to be significant and something those who us who belong to “Resolution” parishes need to reflect on.As a parish,we belong to that group of parishes that passed the Resolutions back in the day but have not as yet affiliated to SSWH.Anyway “these married Evangelical women” are probably good,if safe, choices.At least the Church of England may have the wit to avoid the disastrous appointment in the TEC where Heather Cook was consecrated Suffragan Bishop in Maryland and after totally scandalous behaviour is now… Read more »
We might need to wait until the new Church of England Yearbook is published re actual birth dates of +Europe and +Leicester. Robert Innes was born in 1959. Martyn Snow was born in 1968 (I am told he is younger than +Southwell and Nottingham, also born 1968). Both are the two youngest diocesans currently.
Father David, you are correct in your 0912 of 27 February. Section 2 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Age Limit) Measure 1975 states: “2 Archbishop may continue in office for certain period after attaining retiring age at discretion of Her Majesty. Where Her Majesty considers that there are special circumstances which make it desirable that a person holding the office of archbishop should continue in that office after the date on which he would otherwise retire in accordance with the foregoing section, She may authorise the continuance in office of that person after that date for such period, not exceeding one… Read more »
Archbishop Randall Davidson was the first Archbishop of Canterbury to retire, all his predecessors died in office, in 1928, aged 80. Of course, he was a Scot of good Presbyterian stock and parentage, having been born in Edinburgh. I wonder what he, the longest serving ABC since the Reformation, would have made of the Columba Declaration?
Not so very long ago one of the best ways for a clergyman to get a tea cosy was to have run a Theological College. Prior to that the best way to get a hat was to have been Headmaster at a major Public School. Now things have changed, Big Time! The best chance for a woman to get a new hat is to have been an Archdeacon. Of the nine so far nominated to be Right Reverend no less than five have been Venerables – Gloucester, Newcastle, Taunton, Sherborne and, most recently Repton. More than 50%, so ladies, if… Read more »
I have updated the dates of birth on my list of English diocesan bishops; I agree with those given by Father David.
The Church of England Year Book stopped giving full dates of birth in the 2008 edition, so unless it has re-instated these recently (the most recent copy I have is 2013) we won’t learn the actual birth dates of +Europe and +Leicester from there.
Dear Peter, thank you for updating your list of Diocesans, most helpful. From the list it would seem that the best way for those of the masculine gender to become Diocesan Bishops is to have been a Suffragan Bishop first. The vast majority of Diocesans have taken this particular route. Only four (Blackburn, Europe, Lincoln and Peterborough) were Archdeacons immediately before becoming Diocesans. Three were College Principals (Coventry, Sheffield and St. Edmundsbury & Ipswich). two were Parish Priests (Chester – Beverley Minster & Salisbury – St. Martin’s in the Fields). One was a Domestic Chaplain (Sodor & Man to Ebor).… Read more »
+Europe was not an archdeacon – he was senior chaplain in Brussels and so (in English terms) a Dean or a parish priest.
+Lincoln was not an archdeacon *immediately* before becoming a diocesan bishop either. He was an archdeacon, but then became head of the Ministry Division of the Archbishops’ Council.
This place is starting to sound like a Shakespeare play. ‘Gloucester’, ‘Buckingham’ etc.
Unlike Pope Francis I lack the quality of infallibility! I had thought that Robert Innes was Archdeacon of Brussels prior to becoming Bishop of a diocese which stretches from Gibraltar to Vladivostok. Further research shews that he was, as Charles Read intimates, Senior Chaplain at the pro-cathedral in Brussels but in the announcement of his appointment to Europe he is referred to as “Chancellor” rather than Dean. Before going to Europe he was for six years Vicar of St. Mary Magdalene parish church, Belmont in the Diocese of Durham where I had the privilege some years ago of officiating at… Read more »
It may well look like a Shakespeare Play but on the whole it has nought to do with the Archdeacon of Norwich who is soon to be the Bishop of Repton. Someone had the temerity to accuse me of “trolling”. I must admit I had to look up the meaning of the word and it was not very perspicacious! Usually, when a new woman is to be elevated to the episcopacy this Blog is full of comments on how wonderful she is and what an ornament she will be to her new Bishoprick (Hensley Henson’s spelling). Perhaps, like buses they… Read more »
I did once hear of an Anglican Franciscan Friar becoming ‘The Dean of Jesus’ (College). We simple friars were then bound to ask him: “How does that relate to ‘The Vicar of Christ?’
OK I will rise to Fr. David’s bait! I have known Jan for some years, having met her at parties at the (now) Archdeacon of York’s house when the latter was a vicar in Manchester. Present also at said parties were Libby and George Lane. I hope you are all impressed by this concise name-dropping! Jan is now my archdeacon and indeed my line manager as I am Director of Reader training and Deputy Warden of Readers. She has been a great support to me in my work for the short while she has been Warden and she has an… Read more »
This thread seems to have attracted a good deal of statistical and other analysis. To add to it, I venture hesitantly to return to a subject I have raised in these columns before (and for which I received a withering episcopal rebuke the last time!), that is where the 9 women bishops so far appointed received their theological training. This might be thought to give a clue as to their ‘constituency’ or churchmanship, although it is by no means an infallible indicator of such. Of the 9, 3 were trained at Cranmer Hall, 2 at Trinity Bristol and one each… Read more »
Malcolm The present appointments prove you wrong. If you think they all represent a uniform steer towards a HTB model (whatever that is) you are assuming none have their own mind or theological convictions? And with with all respect I do not think you are aware of the complex and creative variety within Anglican evangelicalism in general these days.
David – Thank you for your reply. No, I don’t think that a priest’s place of theological training puts them in a straitjacket for the rest of their ministry, as I tried to make clear in my post. But it is an indicator of where they have come from. I readily agree that I am not fully aware of the complex and creative variety within Anglican evangelicalism these days, although that is where I began my faith journey, and I know that there are some evangelicals that I can agree with more easily than others. I don’t doubt that the… Read more »