Press release below from the Prime Minister’s Office
The Bishop of Oswestry replaces the former Bishop of Ebbsfleet as one of the Provincial Episcopal Visitors in the southern province of the Church of England. Fr Thomas will be consecrated on 2 February 2023. There is more detail in this Church of England press release.
Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Oswestry: 2 December 2022
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Paul Thomas to the Suffragan See of Oswestry, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 2 December 2022
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Paul Thomas, Vicar of the Benefice of St James Paddington, in the Diocese of London, to the Suffragan See of Oswestry, in the Diocese of Lichfield.
Background
Paul was born and raised in West Wales and received a BA in Medieval English from Cardiff University in 1996 and an MA in 1998. He trained for ordained ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and was ordained Deacon in 2002 and Priest in 2003.
Paul served his title at St Mary with Christ Church Wanstead, in the Diocese of Chelmsford, and in 2006 he was appointed Assistant Priest, and later Associate Rector, of St Marylebone in the Diocese of London. In 2008, he was additionally appointed Chaplain at St Marylebone Secondary School and Chaplain to the Royal Academy of Music.
Paul was appointed to his current role as Vicar of St James Paddington in 2011 and additionally served as Area Dean of Paddington from 2016 to 2021. Between 2017 and 2019 Paul also served as Acting Archdeacon of Charing Cross in the Two Cities Area of the Diocese of London.
A video introducing himself which you may wish to link to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3941Dimf9-M
What a wonderful rich melodious voice!
He sounds as if he’s rehearsing for a part in a Shakespearean play.
I’ve just watched this inspirational video again for the second time and it has just clicked who the Bishop designate of Oswestry reminds me of, it is none other than Bishop Kallistos Ware of the Greek Orthodox Church, especially in the manner of his authoritative delivery (plus, of course, the beard helps in this comparison). I can see nothing but good and growth coming to the see of Oswestry as a result of Father Paul’s appointment.
Presumably to be consecrated at the same service as the new female Bishop of Hertford. Should be an interesting service. ++ Justin seems to like Canterbury as a venue for consecrations.
I should think we can presume the contrary!
Interesting turn of phrase in his published comments in the Church Times. It would appear that Fr Thomas considers he has 13 other bishops and dioceses within his “See of Oswestry” !
Whatever the geographical scope of his flying he is still only a suffragan of Lichfield.
‘Only a suffragan’ A little patronising don’t you think?
How so? A suffragan is a not a diocesan so a privative adverb is entirely correct. There is no diocese of Oswestry.
Looks and sounds impressive – a man with a plan
The video says a lot about him! Is he an active supporter of women as clergy? That would round out his mellifluous commitment to an inclusive pastoral ministry. As a lover of Our Blessed Lady, I’m sure she would approve of any support he could give to the support for women in ministry – despite Walsingham’s strange opposition to such.
Er, no – that’s the point of his appointment. He is a PEV. He is also a supporter of the Prayer Book Society so no Roman Rite masses one presumes!
Clearly impressive and popular, and known and appreciated by laity. One of the troubles I think with the division in the Church of England of today, namely, Society v. Rest of C of E, is that many of us have a lot of sympathy with what the Society stands for in terms of spirituality, tradition, outlook, pastoral care, the role of bishops, etc but don’t agree with the Society about the ordination of women. This fact is at the root of much tension. It also suggests the Society could do itself favours by being more involved in dioceses and could… Read more »
SSWSH could also do itself favours by using its proper title or some acceptable abbreviation, rather than the monstrous arrogation of the definite article to itself as ‘The Society’, implying that there is no other society worthy of the name. ‘A society parish’ once had a very different meaning – think St Paul’s Knightsbridge or the Grosvenor Chapel!
An inspired and inspiring appointment, and like Bishop Stephen Race, a young appointment – Fr. Paul is only 47. A sign that traditional Catholics will indeed be able to flourish in the Church of England. Axios! Axios! Axios!
We just need a new Ebbsfleet to complete the PEV set. A harder vacancy to fill I would think.
this is instead of Ebbsfleet.
yes indeed, I was thinking of its new incarnation as a conservative evangelical see.
I would have thought that there would be more conservative evangelical ministers than traditional Catholic priests to choose from. It may be that conservative evangelicals are less keen to be bishops. As the new + Ebbsfleet will have the whole of England to cover, it might be difficult to find someone who wants to do all that travelling.
It must be an exhausting job, and like +Maidstone is likely to end up on umpteen committees to represent that constituency.
I thought Richard Chartres had retired!
The consecration has been announced as being at 10.30 a.m. on 2 February at Canterbury Cathedral which is going to make it really very difficult for people from the parishes that will look to the bishop to attend.