In two press releases, 10 Downing Street has announced the nomination of new suffragan bishops of Buckingham here and of Reading here. Both sees are in the diocese of Oxford and there are more details on the Oxford diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of Reverend Canon David Bull as Suffragan Bishop of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 November 2024The King has approved the nomination of Reverend Canon David Bull, Team Rector of Great Marlow with Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bisham, in the Diocese of Oxford, as Suffragan Bishop of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford in succession to Bishop Alan Wilson following his sudden death.
Background
Dave was educated at Worcester College Oxford and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St. Mary’s Reigate, in the Diocese of Southwark, and was ordained priest in 2009.
In 2012, Dave took up his current role as Team Rector and was additionally appointed Area Dean of Wycombe in 2016.
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Mary Gregory for nomination to the Suffragan See of Reading.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 November 2024The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Mary Gregory, Canon Residentiary for Arts and Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Reading, in the Diocese of Oxford, in succession to Bishop Olivia Graham, following her retirement.
Background
Mary was educated at Birmingham University and St John’s College, Durham and trained for ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. She served her title at St Lawrence, Hatfield, in the Diocese of Sheffield and in 2006, was ordained priest. From 2008, Mary served as Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kirk Sandall and Edenthorpe and from 2013, she was additionally appointed Dean of Women’s Ministry.
In 2015, Mary was appointed Team Rector of the Flagstaff Family of Churches, in the Diocese of Leicester, also serving as Diocesan Rural Mission Enabler from 2020. Mary has served in her current role as Canon Residentiary for Arts and Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral since 2022.
What is the position of both new bishops with regard to PLF?
I don’t know much about either of them. But here is a snippet from the announcement on the Coventry Cathedral website about Mary Gregory: “In her three years in Coventry Cathedral Mary has led us significantly forward in our journey towards being a welcoming, safe and inclusive place for all people”
https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/news-and-updates/coventry-cathedral-announcement-for-canon-mary-gregory-to-be-new-bishop-of-reading
Perhaps the few comments on Inclusive Evangelicals, which have all been positive, may give a clue?
It would be another significant own goal for +Oxford if he didn’t broaden the theological convictions of his senior team with these appointments.
I wish them both well. They are clearly able and good priests, and if what we need is pastoral support, reconciliation, collaboration and parish experience, then these two appointments look good to me.
Cranmer Hall and Wycliffe. Is there a theme?
Well, Bishop Steven was Canon Mary’s principal when she was training for ordination.
Not this old chestnut again – people’s entire theological outlook is assumed to reflect that of the institution they attended two decades ago.
Do Church of England clergy really remain cast in stone by their theological college? Here in Canada, my former (Anglo-Catholic) bishop Victoria Matthews sent most of her ordinands to Wycliffe College in Toronto, reputedly an evangelical institution.
Too many do. Try living in England and see.
When a bishop is called “Dave”, there’s a theme.
There may be; but I find it refreshing that he has not changed his name upon appointment to the episcopate, as happens quite often. If one is Dave, one should become Bishop Dave. To, for instance, be perfectly happy as Archdeacon Chris but insist upon becoming Bishop Christopher is so up-yourself it beggars belief!
A bit tough on a guy who has suffered much at the hands of the Church of England. I do not think he is up himself as you believe.
Give him a break!
The Bishop of Oxford was “Steve” before he became Bishop of Sheffield…
Indeed!
If a bishop called ‘Dave’ follows Christ and loves his people, I’m fine with him going by ‘Dave’.
It’s poor practice to appoint suffragan bishops (or archdeacons, for that matter) from within the diocese. Much better fro fresh eyes and a fresh voice to come in from the outside, without established friends and enemies. Inside appointments are how bad habits and poor culture get established in an inward-looking diocese.
I suspect that inside elections are more common in the rest of the Anglican communion where dioceses elect their own bishops. Certainly the past two electoral synods in my Diocese of Edmonton (western Canada) have chosen people from within the diocese (Jane Alexander and Steve London). I think there are things to be said for both approaches and I would disagree with a hard and fast rule either way.
I think that makes sense; I think I can argue either way.
In this case it’s one of each… both will have had their strengths and weaknesses.
This is probably the first time I’ve strongly disagreed with any of your comments here. We’ve suffered 10 years of an Area Bishop (with a significant long incumbency) who had nothing in common with the churches under his care (bar the 2 suburban Evangelical churches similar to his incumbency), and certainly not with the Anglo Catholic and middle of the road retired clergy upon whom his parishes were totally dependent. In the week after his departure was announced, I heard the same refrain from 4 Wardens and Readers “He never listens”! The most important aspect of episcopal ministry must be… Read more »
i think both had a life before becoming ordained? Must be a good thing.
Mary was a deputy prison governor and once demonstrated to other ordinands how to restrain a prisoner. They then all wanted to be restrained. The two staff members present (me and one other…) quietly declined to join in. (This was over coffee after dinner in college one night). When Mary was demonstrating how to put someone in the restraining position I knew she would one day be an archdeacon. She may still find use for this skill.
I think being restrained by an Archdeacon (or bishop) is forbidden under Safeguarding rules.
Thank you for that insight, Charles, which helps me understand Mary in a whole different light. Running prisons is a hugely challenging and very practical job, and hopefully this will equip Mary in her vocation and service.
Like being an oil executive?
Not so sure. Some of us did 6 years training before being let loose on Joe public unsupervised.
Formation is not to be sneezed at. The short course has its snags!
In following this thread I find myself remembering Edward Luscombe, who was born in 1924 and priested in Scotland in 1964 (he was not Scottish by birth). He went on to become Bishop of Brechin (1975-90) and, ultimately, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (1985-90). He was married with a daughter. In his pre-ordination life he was a Chartered Accountant.
Another raft of ‘excellent appointments’ so why is the CofE on its BTM?