There are 33 Church Commissioners, who have trustee responsibility for meeting our charitable obligations. Six of the Commissioners hold offices of state and the other 27 make up the Board of Governors, the main policy-making body.
Ex officio Commissioner from 2013. Former oil industry executive; ordained in 1992; curacy and incumbencies in Coventry diocese 1992-2002; Residentiary Canon at Coventry Cathedral 2002-05 and Sub Dean 2005-07; Dean of Liverpool Cathedral 2007-11; Bishop of Durham 2011-13. Expert in the politics and history of Kenya and Nigeria, Archbishop Justin has done extensive reconciliation work, most notably in Africa. Member of Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards.
Member of the Board and Chair of the Church Commissioners. (However, the Archbishop is authorised by legislation to appoint a Deputy Chair for periods of up to 5 years. Currently his Deputy is the Bishop of Manchester)
Ex-officio Commissioner from 2005. Ordained 1979; curacy/incumbencies at Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and Brixton 1979-96; Bishop of Stepney 1996-2002; Bishop of Birmingham 2002-05. Served on Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 1997-99 and the Damilola Taylor Murder Investigation Review 2002.
First Commissioner from November 2017. Formerly Chief Executive of Christian Aid 2010-17. Lawyer by training with career in financial regulation from 1990. First Head of Enforcement Law, Policy and International Cooperation for the Financial Services Authority, chaired the International Organisation of Securities Commissions' Standing Committee on Enforcement and Information-Sharing. Former CEO of Financial Services Compensation Scheme and trustee of Disasters Emergency Committee and CofE Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Trustee of St Georges House Trust (Windsor Castle) and a Sarum Canon at Salisbury Cathedral.
Member of the Board and Chair of Assets Committee.
Second Commissioner from 2015. Number of leading parliamentary posts, including Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Shadow Minister for Women, Chairman of the Conservative Party, Shadow Office of the Deputy Prime Minister/Communities and Local Government. Member of several Parliamentary committees, incl. Environmental Audit Select Committee and Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill. Vice Chair of Tearfund and Patron of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity.
Member of the Board. Not a member of any committee but entitled to attend and speak at any.
Third Commissioner from April 2018. Academic and writer. Formerly leadership, strategy and change faculty at Ashridge Business School. Previous careers included Deloitte, where she specialised in Change Management, and the Church Commissioners. Degrees in Theology and an MBA. Chair of the Board of Governors of Gordonstoun school.
Member of the Board and Chair of Bishoprics & Cathedrals and Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committees.
Bishop of Manchester Commissioner from 2014. After research work in Pure Mathematics, spent 17 years in parish ministry and industrial chaplaincy in Sheffield Diocese. Bishop of Dudley 2000-13. Former vice chair of Church of England Pensions Board. Engaged in statistical research and Social Housing. Lead bishop for Religious Communities.
Commissioner from 2019. Ordained Deaconess in 1982, became chaplain of Clare College Cambridge in 1985. Ordained Deacon in 1987 in Ely, +Viv moved into work in cathedrals in 1990 in Gloucester as chaplain where she was ordained priest, in Coventry as Canon Pastor and later Vice Provost, and in Leicester as Provost and later Dean. MBA (Open University), former chair of the Association of English Cathedrals and Chair of Deans’ Conference. Has served on Boards of a regional theatre, a large FE College and a University. Appointed Dean of York in 2012, with responsibility for completion of £20m HLF/ Chapter funded restoration of the Great East Window, as well as significant major organisational cultural and strategic development. In 2018 she was consecrated Bishop to serve as Bishop of Bristol, her mother’s home city. She is married to Michael, an immunologist, gardener and beekeeper.
Member of the Board and Bishoprics & Cathedrals Committee
Commissioner since January 2017 (and previously from 2009-13). Early career in commercial management with BP and theological study at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Parish priest in Hull and Coventry 1984 – 2000. Former Bishop of Birkenhead and Bishop of Birmingham since 2006. Actively involved in social cohesion, economic justice, and education. Interested in global politics and international relations, chaired Church Mission Society 1993 – 2008. Archbishop of Canterbury's Envoy to China and Prelate to the Order of St Michael and St George. Member of Banking Standards Board since 2015. Convenor of the Lords Spiritual and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on inclusive growth.
Commissioner from 2017. Deaconess from 1984, ordained Deacon 1987. Tutor and Course Director on St Albans Ministerial Training Scheme 1988-1996 and Director of Mission Studies with Oxford Ministry Course. Ordained Priest 1994 becoming Vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ the King, Stevenage in 1996. Rural Dean of Stevenage in 1999, Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich 2001 to 2012. Assistant Priest at Southwark Cathedral and acting Warden of Readers in St Albans diocese, from 2012. Bishop of Newcastle from 2015.
Member of the Board and Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committee
On General Synod from 2015, and elected to the Commissioners in 2017. New College, Oxford, and St Stephen's House. Ordained 1995 to a curacy in Wantage, then chaplain to the Bishop of Horsham. Vicar of St Michael's Beckenham for ten years. Vicar of St Alban's Holborn since 2011. Degrees in Music, Theology and Law; called to the Bar 2010. Trustee of the London Diocesan Fund and the London Diocesan Board for Schools. Contributor to an Ashgate/Routledge volume on Religion and Legal Pluralism, and author of a monthly column in the journal New Directions.
Commissioner from 1997. Ordained 1984, Curacies in Hull (York diocese) 1984-88, Rector of Pitsford with Boughton from 1988, diocese of Peterborough. CME Secretary 1988-93. Chair of Church Buildings Committee, member of Bishop's Council and DBF. General Synod member from 1995, Synodical Secretary of Convocation of Canterbury from 2010. Member of Ecclesiastical Law Society. Writer on theology and canon law.
Member of the Board and Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committee
Commissioner from 2019. Ordained in 1991 following managerial roles in the Home Office and British Telecom. Parish priest in Greenwich, Battersea and Central London where she is currently Vicar of St Pancras Church. Also previously Chaplain of Trinity College Cambridge and Director of Reader Training in Southwark Diocese. Member of General Synod for Southwark 2005-2012, and London from 2017. Degrees in English (Warwick) and Theology (Cambridge and London). Trustee of Inclusive Church 2013-2016 and WATCH 2012-2019.
Public affairs, community engagement and media management. Commissioner from 1992. Trained as a lawyer, MP for Leicester East 1983-87, many current and former voluntary roles including member of General Synod from 1985, Dioceses Commission, Legislative Committee (former acting Chair), Cathedrals Fabric Commission, General Synod Board of Education and Dearing Commission. Also lay canon Guildford cathedral, Civilian-Military Liaison Adviser and Regional Fundraiser. Ofsted Church Schools inspector and former independent lay chair of NHS complaints tribunal.
Member of the Board, Assets Committee and Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committee
Church Commissioner since 2009. Following a successful career as a Director of a Chartered Surveying practice, changed in 2010 to work in Charity sector as CEO of an interdenominational Christian charity with a focus on Jewish/Christian relations. General Synod member from 2005 and former member of its Church Buildings Council. Previously served on Commissioners' Church Buildings (Uses & Disposals) Committee. Church Warden and member of Bishop's Council (Chichester). Duke of Edinburgh Expedition Leader.
Member of the Board and Bishoprics & Cathedrals Committee
Commissioner from January 2019. Jay has been an environmental campaigner since 1989 and now also campaigns against modern slavery. Career in Social Work (M.Phil. Social Work University of York 1976) with later training in both project and change management. Took a career break in 1994, gained an HND in Land Use and since then has a special interest in Forestry and the timber industry. Given a Millennium Award in 1999 to study development and capacity building projects in Uganda.
Career in banking and Local Government Education finance, including 20 years as School Business Manager. 2002-2009- involved in development of national training programme for School Business Managers, working with the DfE, TDA and National College for School Leadership. Awarded MBE for “services to education” in 2008. Project Co-ordinator for £20 million new school build under Building Schools for the Future (2008-2011). Lay Canon Chester Cathedral, Member General Synod, Chair of Chester Diocesan Multi Academy Trust, former chair of Chester DBF and former member of Archbishops’ Council Finance Committee and Ecclesiastical Fees Commission.
Member of the Board and Bishoprics & Cathedrals Committee
Dean of Gloucester. Commissioner from 2016. Ordained in 1988, assistant curate at Sherborne Abbey for four years, parish priest of Branksome St Aldhelm, Poole, in 1992 and subsequently Assistant Rural Dean and Rural Dean of Poole before appointment as Canon Residentiary and Sub Dean of St Albans Cathedral in 2001. Installed as Dean of Gloucester in 2011. Chairs Gloucester Regeneration Advisory Board, County Scout Executive and Project Pilgrim Board. Awarded Honorary Fellowship by the University of Gloucestershire in 2015 for his contribution to the city.
Member of the Board and Bishoprics & Cathedrals Committee
Dean of Ely. Commissioner from 2019. Ordained in 1985, served first in the Durham Diocese, then sent 16 years in St Albans diocese as chaplain and precentor at St Albans Abbey, Vicar of Eaton Bray and finally Rector of Great Berkhamstead. Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral from 2004-2012. Member of General Synod 1995-2010, chaplain to the Synod and member of Liturgical Commission. Married to a primary school headteacher. Has two daughters who have now left home.
Commissioner from 2017. Graduate in Industrial Economics and Associate of Chartered Institute of Bankers. Early career in corporate banking with culminating in leading the mid-market real estate & construction finance business in 2002. Head of Real Estate and Retail Group followed by various managing director roles at RBS, including MD of Real Estate Finance Group & Sustainability. London Real Estate Finance Board Chair and member of UK Real Estate Management Committee from 2008. Moved to a portfolio career in 2015 including various commercial and charitable sector roles such as a board member of LondonMetric Property Plc, senior advisor at Centrus, co-founder of Real Estate Balance which helps promote and embed a diversity culture within industry and Board director of RHP.
Commissioner from 2017. Global Head of Real Estate at Schroders responsible for developing growth strategy. Schroder Real Estate Board member and Chair of internal investment committee. Previous CEO of Invista, formed from Fund Management business of Insight Investment Management Ltd. Joined Insight in 2003 following its acquisition of Gatehouse Investment Management, the real estate investment management boutique which he co-founded. Also former Partner at Jones Lang LaSalle. Over 25 years of Real Estate experience, degree from Sheffield City University and qualified chartered surveyor. Studied at Insead Business School and is an FCA approved person. Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and British Property Federation's Policy Committee. Non-Exec Chair of Monument Asset Management.
Former CEO of Joseph Rowntree Foundation, before becoming a “working peer” in House of Lords specialising in housing policy. Previously CEO of National Housing Federation and chaired Hanover Housing Association. Former President of Local Government Association and The Property Ombudsman Chair. Currently co-chairs All Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People, has chaired Lords Audit Committee and Select Committee on Communications.
Member of the Board and Mission, Pastoral & Church Property Committee
Nominated by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
Actuary Commissioner from 2012. Senior Consultant at Towers Watson Ltd since 2003 advising companies and pension trustees on scheme funding and valuations among other things. Fellow of Institute and Faculty of Actuaries since 2007. Chair of Trustees of Keeping Health In Mind, a small charity in Coventry and Warwickshire focussed on reducing stigma associated with mental health issues within faith communities, and formerly a Trustee and treasurer of CPAS. Also Commissioners’ nominated member of Church of England Pensions Board.
Member of the Board and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
Commissioner from 2013. Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock Alternative Advisors, the Absolute Return Strategies group at BlackRock, where he is a member of the Investment Committee and Management Committee. Portfolio manager responsible for managing commingled funds and custom solutions for institutional clients and oversees the sourcing, evaluating, and monitoring of alternative investment managers and co-investments. Spent several years in Asia where he established the Hong Kong-based office for the group. BA degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Washington.
Commissioner from 2014. Managing Director at BlackRock Management (UK) Ltd. As Head of Strategic Product Management for EMEA, is responsible for driving product development, implementation, strategy and investment oversight in the region. Previously a portfolio manager in Fundamental Equities where she managed global investments in both the oil and gas sectors and those facilitating and benefitting from the transition to a lower carbon economy. Service with firm dates back to 2000, including years at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. Commissioner on the Energy Transitions Commission and, in 2016, was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. BSc in physics from Imperial College of Science and Technology.
Commissioner from 2014. Portfolio Chairman and Non-Executive Director, multiple sectors. Previously Partner at European Private Equity Fund Manager, Bridgepoint, 1990-2013. Degree in Engineering from Cambridge University and MBA with distinction from INSEAD Business School, France. Chartered Engineer, member of the Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales d'Ingénieurs, Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. Member of the MBA Programme Advisory Board for Durham University Business School, and a visiting lecturer in private equity at Durham University Business School and INSEAD Business School.
Commissioner from April 2018. Senior executive at a global financial institution. Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and member of Board of Trustees of Global Association of Risk Professionals. Member of the Audit Committee of Commonwealth Secretariat. In 2015 co-authored his first book “Dreaming a Nation” which told the story of Barbados’s journey to Independence.
QC Commissioner from 2019. Practicing barrister, based in London, specialising in planning, local government and environment law. Commissary General of the diocese of Canterbury and the Deputy Chancellor of Southwark, and, on occasions, chairs Clergy Discipline Tribunals. Reader in the Church of England with a keen interest in music, especially choral. Morag is married to a parish priest; they have three children and live in Essex.
