New Bishop of Southampton

It has been announced by Downing Street that the Venerable Rhiannon King, currently Archdeacon of Ipswich, will be the next Bishop of Southampton.

The suffragan bishop of Southampton is a key leadership role in the Diocese of Winchester covering the parishes, chaplaincies and schools across the six deaneries of Southampton, Bournemouth, Eastleigh, Lyndhurst, Romsey and Christchurch.

Rhiannon’s ordained ministry to date has spanned the dioceses of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Birmingham and Ely. She was ordained deacon in 2000 and worked first in a team ministry in the market town of Huntingdon, followed by being the Rector of a multi-parish benefice just outside Cambridge. She then became Director of Mission for the Diocese of Birmingham which involved leading their Growing Younger project and helping to implement their ‘Transforming Church’ and church-planting vision.

She currently serves as the Archdeacon of Ipswich and Director of the ‘Inspiring Ipswich’ project. Rhiannon is also a trustee of ‘Leading your Church into Growth’.

For the full announcement, see the Diocese of Winchester website.