In two press releases from 10 Downing Street the appointments of new suffragan bishops of Selby and Whitby in the diocese of York have been announced:
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Flora Winfield, Third Church Estates Commissioner, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Selby in the Diocese of York.
and
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Barry Hill, Strategy Development Enabler in the Diocese of Leicester, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Whitby in the Diocese of York.
The full texts of the press releases are included below the fold.
More information from the diocese of York is here. The consecrations of the two new bishops will take place on 10 October 2024 at York Minster.
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Flora Winfield, Third Church Estates Commissioner, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Selby in the Diocese of York.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 31 July 2024
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Flora Winfield, Third Church Estates Commissioner, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Selby in the Diocese of York in succession to Bishop John Thomson following his retirement.
Flora was educated at St David’s University College, Lampeter, and trained for ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. Ordained as a deacon in 1989 and as a priest in 1994, Flora served as a parish deacon in estates ministry and as Chaplain and Tutor in Church History at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, before becoming National Ecumenical Officer for the Church of England in 1997. In 1997, Flora was commissioned as a Chaplain in the Army Reserve, serving for the past 27 years with operational units and in Brigade and Divisional Headquarters as a Deputy Assistant Chaplain General.
In 2002, Flora was appointed as a Canon Residentiary at Winchester Cathedral and, in 2005, she took up the role of Assistant Secretary General, Religions for Peace, New York. Flora was appointed as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Relations in 2007 and from 2008 to 2013 she served as Priest-in-Charge at St Mary-at-Hill, in the Diocese of London. She was appointed as Anglican Communion Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 2014, as Archbishop’s Special Representative to the Commonwealth in 2017, as the Archbishop’s Adviser on Reconciliation in 2019 and as the Third Church Estates Commissioner in 2022.
In 2010, Flora was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London, and serves as the Chair of the Lieutenancy Council on Faith.
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Barry Hill, Strategy Development Enabler in the Diocese of Leicester, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Whitby in the Diocese of York.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 31 July 2024
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Barry Hill, Strategy Development Enabler in the Diocese of Leicester, for nomination to the Suffragan See of Whitby in the Diocese of York, in succession to Bishop Paul Ferguson, following his retirement.
After leaving school, Barry worked in youthwork and flight simulation in Sussex before training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Ordained alongside his wife Pep in 2005, Barry served his title at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough and St Mary-in-Charnwood, Nanpantan, in the Diocese of Leicester.
In 2009, he took up the role of Diocesan Mission Enabler supporting urban and rural parishes in mission and ministry, alongside a focus on cultivating vocations, ministry with children and young people and pastorally supporting clergy as they lead change. During this time he was also the diocesan lead for fresh expressions of Church, helping develop a new approach to parish based pioneer ministry. Barry was appointed Team Rector of the Harborough Anglican Team in 2017, with a particular brief to support parishes in their desire to grow younger and, additionally, part of the Bishop’s Leadership Team as Diocesan Resourcing Church Enabler.
Barry has served as Strategy Development Enabler since 2023, helping discern and write a long-term strategy for the diocese, especially to grow younger and more diverse. He works closely with the Board of Education as Trustee of a large church and community school Multi-Academy Trust, helps lead Thy Kingdom Come, is an Archbishops’ Evangelist, and is a keen member of the Mothers’ Union.
Pep and Barry have two teenage children, and a small dog, Tilly. He is a passionate supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion, enjoys musical theatre, cooking and is learning to roller-skate.
So in the rarefied world of keeping statistics on female bishops, I am now rather curious: (subject to further appointments and consecrations elsewhere in the Communion, at this stage) one of the two women slated for consecration on the 10 October 2024 will be the 150th woman to be made an Anglican bishop, the two being Patricia Hillas (Sodor and Man), or Flora Winfield (Selby).
So what?
As I said, “So in the rarefied world of keeping statistics …” and yes, so what – sure! But I do think the milestone here (150 women in the episcopate) is worth a brief reflection on how change operates in the long history of the Anglican Church. 1st bishop (Barbara Harris) – 1989 50th bishop (Ruth Worsley) – 2015 100th bishop (Olivia Graham / Rose Hudson-Wilkin) – 2019 150th bishop (Patricia Hillas / Flora Winfield) – 2024 It took 26 years to get from 1 to 50, 4 years to get from 50 to 100, and 5 years to get… Read more »
Thanks for this. Do you have stats on how many of these are diocesans?
As at 2 August 2024 147 women have been consecrated as bishops and 5 have been elected and are awaiting consecration for a total of 152 women in 16 Provinces. Of these there are
70 diocesans or equivalent (including 1 primate)
41 assistant or suffragan bishops
7 who are in active ministry in other roles
7 who have died
26 who have retired (including 2 primates)
1 defrocked
= 152 total
Given there’s probably something like 850-900 dioceses in the Anglican Communion, that’s around 8% led by women.
Thanks. Progress, but so slow!
It’s a shame we don’t know the name of Flora’s black labrador. Pep and Barry are the proud owners of Tilly whose breed hasn’t been disclosed. i think we should be told.
The owners of both dogs are so busy in the vineyard it’s a wonder they get chance to take them for a walk. Perhaps Tilly is a Heinz 57? I’m not a doggy person but I’m told that Norwegian Elk Hounds are ideal companions for clerics.
The Norwegian Elk Hound is renowned for challenging Bears, Elk and Moose but I fear would be ineffective in scaring off Conservative Evangelicals.
Are cat lovers allowed to be bishops?
Dog lovers are more extrovert, like socialising and walking. Cat lovers are more neurotic and like sitting in a chair all day. Some bishops are like that.
Which job title do you prefer? Strategy Development Enabler, or Bishop?
I’m reminded of David Cameron’s jibe to Blair. ‘You were the future once’. I guess a steep learning curve lies ahead.
We were all the future once.
Difficult to see what sort of future there is for the CofE. Haemorrhaging numbers and the remnant is mutinous, with the strong likelihood of schism.
I think from time to time it is important to keep this evaluation firmly at the center. It’s easy to get lost in this or that most recent dyspepsia. And can be preferable to the big picture.
Speak for yourself! As a fully-paid-up dinosaur, my motto has always been ‘Forward to an imaginary past!’ 🙂
Both nominated bishops are currently members of the House of Clergy of General Synod: Barry Hill as an elected member representing the Diocese of Leicester, and Flora Winfield ex officio as Third Church Estates Commissioner. In the light of the LLF/LPF controversy and the close votes in York, it will of interest to see who is elected in the byelection to replace Barry. Barry voted neither for nor against the LLF motions (items 24 and 68, nor registered an abstention, at the recent York meeting; Flora voted for the amended motion (item 24). Another point of interest: Barry is the… Read more »
Third in fact. Bishop Guli.
No, Bishop Guli was Curate Training Officer in Peterborough Diocese immediately before her appointment as suffragan Bishop of Loughborough in 2017.
Yes – my misread of previous post …
Not much parish experience between them. Maybe nowadays that’s not that important for a bishop.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
I don’t know either of them, but from what I can see ‘who cares about parishes? who cares about people?’ seems to be the order of the day for new Bishops these days. Occasionally one slips through who doesn’t think like that, but care for people and front line parishes are typically an awful long way down the list of essential and desirable skills.
I do know Barry. Yes, he’s spent quite a bit of time in ‘central’ support posts in the diocese. That absolutely does not translate as not caring about people or parishes. Barry has been hugely supportive of local church ministry and, to those of us in Leicester diocese who know him, a great colleague and a warm friend. Whitby will be lucky to have him.
Just looking at Flora Winfield’s experience, as detailed in the press release – “parish deacon in estates ministry” (doesn’t say how long but implies between three and eight years); and five years as a priest-in-charge in London. That’s a fair bit of parish experience. Additionally she has been an army chaplain for 27 years, which clearly isn’t “parish” experience, but surely counts as working at the coal face. Plus a decade in an international or national role. I’ve never met her, but on the face of it, I’d say she was well qualified.
Crockford says she was parish deacon at Stantonbury and Willen, Oxford Diocese, from 1989-92.
She was priest in charge of a minuscule parish in the City, hardly the cutting edge of parish ministry. Perhaps St Mary at Hill is awarded to high fliers to give them A vote in synodical structures? Or an income? Her predecessor became Bishop of Dover, so perhaps it’s some sort of training ground for episcopal ministry.
From 1991-2000 I was rector of a three point parish in northern Alberta. Average attendance at our main point Christendom ministry and mission in isolated communities in northern Alberta was definitely cutting edge. ‘Minuscule’ has nothing to do with it. Every life matters, and I faced just as much crisis intervention, addiction-recovery (I was a primary resource person for the local AA group), and end-of-life work as my neighbour in the city of Grande Prairie.
Sorry, part of my comment has been deleted accidentally. It originally read:
From 1991-2000 I was rector of a three point parish in northern Alberta. Average attendance at our main point was 25-30; at the other two, 10-15 each – so definitely ‘minuscule’. But post-Christendom ministry and mission in isolated communities in northern Alberta was definitely cutting edge. ‘Minuscule’ has nothing to do with it. Every life matters, and I faced just as much crisis intervention, addiction-recovery (I was a primary resource person for the local AA group), and end-of-life work as my neighbour in the city of Grande Prairie.
If only a parish could welcome a new incumbent three months after the previous person had left.
A multi talented Tilly?
The Bishop of Whitby from 1947 to 1954 was Walter Hubert Baddeley, who previously as Bishop of Melanesia had spent part of WW2 in the Solomon Islands under Japanese occupation. He was ultimately Bishop of Blackburn. His father-in-law was Bishop of Adelaide, and one of his grandsons has recently retired as a bishop in Queensland.
Walter Baddeley’s grandson is ++Jeremy Greaves, the current Archbishop of Brisbane.
Notable past Archbishops of Brisbane include Sir Philip Strong and, earlier, J.W.C. Wand. Their lives are within living memory. It was deeply tragic when in 1970 an Archbishop-elect of Brisbane died before the date set for his consecration. That was Frank Coaldrake, who would have succeeded Philip Strong.
Almost right, Clifford … the bishop you mention in Queensland, Jeremy Greaves, far from being retired (indeed he is neither retiring, nor shy) was made an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Brisbane in 2017 (aged 47) and was elected Archbishop of Brisbane last year. He uses Bishop Baddeley’s staff and wears his pectoral cross.
Thank you, Peter and Kevin, for the correction.
What exactly does a strategy development enabler enable? Beyond ever more strategies of course……
He must have been a resounding success for him to be promoted. Perhaps he’ll point to what he’s enabled so we can all copy it.
You guessed it Roger. Round and round and round we go, where it stops, nobody knows!!
From Strategy Development Enablers, good Lord, deliver us.
In Leicester diocese, it has meant enabling the development of our resource church network. You may or may not like that direction of travel, but the focus of Barry’s ministry has been very much on supporting the flourishing of a good number of local church groups. A good thing, I would have thought.
I wonder what rank Dr Winfield has in the army? Brigadier or Colonel perhaps?
The Deputy Chaplain General is a Brigadier, so as assistant, perhaps, full Colonel.
Do we know where Barry Hill stands re women’s ordination, and the views of either of them on LLF?
They are both members of the House of Clergy of the General Synod, and their voting record is public. For example, the voting record from last November’s vote on the LLF motion, as amended, is available at https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/item-7_0.pdf. Flora Winfield voted in favour of the motion; Barry Hill voted aganst.
The motion was pro same sex relationships?
It’s a shame if the new +Whitby is conservative on this issue. I hope he’s not also conservative on women’s ordination, we’ve had more than enough of that here.
Yes, it was the main vote asking the Bishops to continue the implementation of LLF and to consider standalone PLF services. https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/llf-motion-as-amended.pdf
So now we know he is against LLF, but we are none the wiser on his attitude to women’s ordination. Like Janet, I am concerned about this because of his formation, and particularly remembering that a relatively recent attempt to impose a ‘non-ordaining’ Bishop of Whitby was rebuffed by the women priests of that episcopal area.
I know nothing about the man, but his biographical notes
Indicate that his wife is an ordained priest, which I would have thought is a bit of a clue as to his views on the ordination of women.
Ah yes, thanks, Ian. I had missed that salient point.
But even that is not a guarantee – the Church Times had an article recently celebrating the ‘flourishing’ of traditional catholics. It featured a married couple who had met at theological college – he was opposed to the priestly ministry of women but she was practising it. Not sure how that works, but good luck to them!
Yes, thanks. That’s encouraging.
Barry’s been extremely supportive of female clergy colleagues in Leicester diocese and I’d be astonished to hear he had any issues with the ordination of women clergy. I don’t know where he stands on LLF but I do know he’ll be thoughtful, open and respectful to those he disagreed with, whoever they may be. Remember the people you’re ‘analysing’ here are, for some of us, friends not just chess pieces in the current CofE political games! 😉
Genuinely delighted. Flora was a colleague of mine at the ACO and she is a fierce defender of parish ministry. She has clarity of thought and an inner strength. She holds the best of the Catholic Tradition in her heart. We get a lot of comment on TA for theologically literate Bishops – Flora is that and much more. Barry was Curate to David Newman (Inclusive Evangelical) when I attended Emmanuel Loughborough (perhaps not so inclusive now). He has a commitment to parish ministry and mission. They are very different people and from very different traditions. This is a very… Read more »
Is Emmanuel Loughborough connected to Emmanuel Wimbledon? Is it conservative evangelical?
It is not! No way. It is prob best described as New Wine Evo – but conservative on LLF issues.
Thanks, David.
My late aunt was a member of Emmanuel Loughborough before her death in the first year of Covid. She was very appreciative of the love and support she received from the clergy and people of the parish.
I enjoyed my time there and Barry was an engaging and encouraging leader.
Phil, I know it’s a big congregation, but would you have known my Aunt, Mary Bryce?
David – we were undecided rather than conservative when Barry was curate.