Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. There is more on the diocesan website.
Appointment of Dean of Wells: 15 January 2024
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Toby Wright for appointment as Dean of Wells.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 15 January 2024
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Toby Wright, Team Rector of Witney and Honorary Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, to be appointed as Dean of Wells, in succession to The Very Reverend Dr John Davies following his resignation.
Toby was educated at New College, Oxford, and trained for ministry at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He served his title at St Peter with St Mary, Petersfield, in the Diocese of Portsmouth and in 2002 he was ordained priest.
From 2004, Toby served as Priest in Charge at St John Chrysostom with St Andrew, Peckham, in the Diocese of Southwark, and in 2006 he was appointed Vicar, also serving as Area Dean of Camberwell.
In 2009, Toby took up his current role as Team Rector of the Benefice of Witney, in the Diocese of Oxford, serving as Area Dean of Witney from 2013 to 2019. From 2020-2023 Toby was on secondment to the Dorchester Episcopal Area Team and during part of this time served as Acting Associate Archdeacon. In addition, Toby is Warden of the Sisters of the Community of Saint Mary the Virgin, Wantage.
Utterly brilliant appointment. Toby is one of the finest parish priests I know! He will be even more outstanding than he is now. I have wondered for years why he hasn’t got a job like this… and now he has! Maybe discernment in the CofE is not as off track as it is often perceived!
This is a strong appointment. Toby is an excellent priest, mission-minded and with a breadth of experience. He knows how to operate effectively in the public square.
I could not agree more with the comments above. Not only is Toby exceptional, but so is his wife, who is also a priest. I hope she will find fulfilment in Wells, too.
Last month I attended the Christmas midnight communion at Exeter Cathedral, where also the Dean is a College of the Resurrection alumnus.
His parish website bio gives more information;
https://www.witneyparish.org.uk/team/?s=the-revd-canon-toby-wright
Leading on the asylum seeker project seems particularly interesting. His experience of cathedral life seems to stem mainly from being an honorary canon at Christ church.