Introducing the new Bishop of Rochester – Rt Rev Jonathan Gibbs

Thursday 31 March, 2022

It has been announced this morning from Downing Street that HM The Queen has approved the nomination of the Rt Rev Jonathan Gibbs as the next Bishop of Rochester.

Bishop Jonathan is currently the Bishop of Huddersfield in the Diocese of Leeds. He also holds the national portfolio of Lead Bishop for Safeguarding, a role he will bring with him into his post as Bishop of Rochester.

Responding to his appointment Bishop Jonathan says:

“I am delighted to have been announced as the new Bishop of Rochester. My wife Toni and I are so excited about the prospect of moving to this wonderful Diocese.

“For us, Rochester will be a new place to explore and we’re so looking forward to getting to know the people of our churches and our communities, and to working together with you to encourage God’s kingdom to grow in this wonderfully varied and rich place.

“We’re very conscious of the diversity of the communities that we serve, from urban and suburban to profoundly rural, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to explore all these different places with you and to share with you in the journey of growing God’s Church, of serving the communities, and of proclaiming the good news of Christ to the people whom we seek to love and to serve in Jesus’ name.”

It is expected that Bishop Jonathan’s installation will take place sometime in September and more details will be released in due course.

In the meantime, please do pray for Bishop Jonathan and his wife Toni as they prepare to move to Bishopscourt and begin their ministry here with us in the Diocese.