Press release from 10 Downing Street. Further information is available from Lichfield diocese and from Oxford diocese.
Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Wolverhampton: 27 August 2024
The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Dr Timothy Wambunya to the Suffragan See of Wolverhampton in the Diocese of Lichfield.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 August 2024The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Dr Timothy Wambunya, Vicar of St Paul’s, Slough, in the Diocese of Oxford, to the Suffragan See of Wolverhampton in the Diocese of Lichfield, in succession to Bishop Clive Gregory, following his retirement.
Background
Tim’s initial career was in Marine Engineering. He trained for ministry at Oakhill Theological College, London, serving his title at St John, Southhall Green, in the Diocese of London, and was ordained Priest in 1998. Tim was appointed Vicar at Emmanuel Holloway Church, Stepney, in 2000 and, in 2007, was appointed Principal at Carlile College (The Church Army Africa College) in Nairobi, Kenya. During these two roles, he studied for a PhD in Paremiology at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (University of Wales). In 2013, he was consecrated and became Bishop of the Diocese of Butere, Anglican Church of Kenya, before taking up his current role in 2020 as Vicar at St Pauls, Slough, in the Diocese of Oxford. He has additionally served as an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford.
I see a parallel with Trevor Huddleston who, having been consecrated in the African continent (Tanzania) became a suffragan in the Province of Canterbury (Stepney).
It is good to note that the first and second Bishops of Wolverhampton are alive, respectively Barry Rogerson who was translated to Bristol and Christopher Mayfield who was translated to Manchester. Like the Bishop-elect, Christopher Mayfield was an engineer before ordination. Bishop Rogerson started his working life in banking. I can recall his visit to Australia in 1981.
The Wolverhampton area looked after by the Area Bishop of Wolverhampton is larger than many dioceses. I suspect it is a “killer” of a job. It certainly made one previous bishop very ill and reduced another to tears at a staff meeting.
A lot of years ago I went on an exchange to Oakhill, for a week from my college, Salisbury & Wells. It struck me as very conservative evangelical then, is that still the case? And does that reflect the views of the new bishop?