Rt Revd Christopher Chessun

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are delighted to announce the appointment of the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun as Bishop for Urban Life and Faith. Bishop Christopher will fulfill this role alongside his ministry as Bishop of Woolwich, drawing on his experience as an urban practitioner. He succeeds the Rt Revd Stephen Lowe who retired last year.

He will work closely with the Mission and Public Affairs Division of the Archbishops' Council, and with the Urban Bishops' Panel. He will support the Church's engagement with Urban issues. The appointment is for three years.

Bishop Christopher said: "Now more than ever, as we face wide-ranging cuts in public services, we must remain committed to tackling urban deprivation and working for community renewal. At the same time it is important to recognise and value the contribution of local church communities in urban areas. I look forward to working with all those eager to restore faith in our urban areas and in their potential as communities of hope."

Apart from his territorial duties as an Area Bishop in the Diocese of Southwark, his early responsibilities as Urban Bishop in the Diocese included chairing the Southwark Diocese's Urban Umbrella and helping to co-ordinate the Diocesan response to the Faithful Cities Report (twenty-one years on from the watershed Faith in the City Report).

The Archbishops of Canterbury and York said:

"The Bishop of Woolwich brings to this role a wealth of experience of urban ministry and mission.  He will be a firm and determined advocate for the church's engagement with Urban issues, particularly on behalf of those in urban areas most vulnerable to the vagaries of our current economic situation."

Brief biographical details

Rt Revd Christopher Chessun served his title at St Michael & All Angels, Sandhurst, before moving on in 1987 to the post of senior curate at St Mary, Portsea in Portsmouth Diocese. In 1989, he became Chaplain and Minor Canon at St Paul's Cathedral and Vocations Adviser in the Diocese of London in 1990, staying in both these roles until 1993, when he was appointed Rector of St Dunstan & All Saints', Stepney. Between 1997 and 2001, he was Area Dean of Tower Hamlets. In April 2001, he became Archdeacon of Northolt, then in April 2005 he was consecrated bishop in Southwark Cathedral, taking up his appointment as Area Bishop of Woolwich and Urban Bishop for the Diocese.