Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. There are more details on the Exeter diocesan website.
Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Plymouth: 6 July 2022
The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Prebendary James Grier to the Suffragan See of Plymouth.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 6 July 2022
The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Prebendary James Grier, Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral and Diocesan Mission Enabler, in the Diocese of Exeter, to the Suffragan See of Plymouth, in the Diocese of Exeter, in succession to The Right Reverend Nicholas McKinnel following his retirement.
Background
James was educated at St Peter’s College, Oxford, and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St Andrew’s, Oxford, and was ordained Priest in 1999.
James served as Associate Vicar at St John the Baptist, Harborne Heath, in the Diocese of Birmingham from 2002. He was appointed Team Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Pinhoe in the Diocese of Exeter in 2007, also serving as Diocesan Youth Advisor. As Youth Advisor, he established Unlimited Church, which became a Bishop’s Mission Order in 2012.
In 2019, James took up his current role as Diocesan Mission Enabler. He has also served as Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral since 2020.
Another happy-clappy!
I always thought that Exeter was more on the traditional catholic side of things. If this chap is a charismatic evangelical won’t he have rather a limited appeal to the people of Devon?
I’m assuming this is a slightly pejorative soubriquet for churches that are pleased to sing ‘modern’ hymns and ‘choruses’. I attend a church where singing anything written post 1900 would bring on a fit of the vapours. It’s fine, but it does mean the church does not attract anyone born after the first half of the twentieth century. As you can imagine this demographic is starting to dwindle quite significantly. If people think that our Lord’s teachings can only be transmitted through a pre-twentieth century culture then I wish them well, but doubt if they will reach a large proportion… Read more »
I was born in the last 2 decades of the 20th century and prefer not to sing anything written after about 1918 if I can help it…
Another in the procession of evangelical preferments. Equal ops?
It’s not unreasonable for the diocese and bishop of Exeter to want someone who brings a balance of theological view to the senior leadership of the diocese. That may or may not have been a factor in the appointment.
IIRC, his predecessor, Nick McKinnel, is also an evangelical.
Apart from the fact that supposedly the CNC discerns the Lord’s choice, not that of the bishop or diocese.
No CNC involved here as it is a suffragan post
But nothing to do with the CNC. Suffragan bishops are not nominated by the CNC. Under the Suffragan Bishops Act 1534 the diocesan bishop nominates to suffragan sees in their diocese, and nowadays they appoint an advisory group to assist them. The process is outlined here https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/Nomination%20Process%20for%20Suffragan%20Bishops.pdf
When will thinking anglicans realise its not about tradition. It is about competence and delivery.
Theology is not the same as tradition
Actually – I would be Ok with someone who is happy – and I dont really care whether they clap or not; but it seems to me to be another in the wave of mediocrity and averageness… Good luck to them – whoever they are!
If you can start a successful church plant for young people and help it fly, I don’t think you qualify as mediocre and average in my book. Given that most Anglican churches in England seem to have less and less members under 65…
…or is it fewer and fewer?
It doesn’t seem very fair to associate someone with the words “mediocrity and averageness” before they have had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities as a Bishop. I may not have the intellectual and theological insight of others who post on this website but I despair at the amount of insults that are thrown around.
I apologise and withdraw my thoughtless and ungracious comments.
Thank you for that.
These announcements do seem to attract a similar pattern of comments. General despair followed by some personal support for the new bishop. I usually throw in a few comments if I’m underwhelmed. We all want bishops who ‘get’ our take on what the CofE is or should be. For me what I value in the suffragans is a willingness and ability to promote positive change, not content with the culture set by the diocesan senior leadership team, and ready to challenge. Ready also for the call to be a diocesan bishop who makes a distinctive contribution to the House of… Read more »