archbishop
- Archbishop William Temple
I suspect that this is where we will end up eventually but, as I said, I would like to help make this happen as soon as possible because our inability to bless same-sex couples or allow LGBT priests to marry, negatively impacts a lot of people and, as our former Archbishop Justin said, is catastrophic for the witness and mission of the church.
While AI has been addressed by the Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury, it has not been tackled by General Synod.
Synod must not split into camps, but be more united, as Archbishop Sarah is endeavouring to achieve.
I have been on the Archbishops’ Council during difficult periods, particularly over safeguarding failures and the resignation of Archbishop Justin.
I remain fully committed to supporting ordained and lay ministry at every level in the Church and have much valued working alongside Archbishop Sarah over a number of years.
But still many hundreds of churches restrict women’s roles in various ways and some serving bishops do not receive communion from our Archbishop of Canterbury because she is female.
I am a member of the Anglican Communion’s Old-Catholic Council and have been invited to apply for the Archbishop’s College of Evangelists.
Archbishop Sarah, in her first presidential address, said she was called not to ‘develop new programmes and initiatives, but to be a shepherd.’ That is the spirit in which I offer myself: not to build a platform, but to serve you.
— Archbishop Sarah, Presidential Address, February 2026
I share Archbishop Sarah’s charge to ‘help the Church love itself more, believing its best days are still to come’.
I also believe, with Archbishop Sarah, that we are ‘limited in our understanding, fragile in our humanity, and in need of one another.’ I am not standing to be a combatant.
This has completely changed now, especially under Archbishop Sarah.
Archbishop William Temple famously observed that "The Church is the only organisation that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members." That conviction continues to shape my ministry.
In June 2017, Peter Bruinvels was awarded The Canterbury Cross by Archbishop Justin for “sustained and outstanding work in support of the Church of England”.
Archbishop.
As a keen pilgrim, I was exhilarated to learn that our new Archbishop, Sarah Mullally, would walk from London to Canterbury for her installation, along a route I had already planned to walk three weeks later.
Recently I had the great honour of taking part, with representatives from across the world-wide Anglican Communion, in the prayerful process of nominating the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
Trustee of the Bishopthorpe Charitable Partners Trust supporting the ministry of the Archbishop of York and initiatives across the Northen Province celebrating faith stories for young people, renewal of missionary purpose, and sharing resources to open new pathways to Jesus Christ.
Whether First Estates Commissioner or Archbishop,
Yet ever since Archbishop Temple’s report ‘Towards the Conversion of England’, 1945, (and probably before that too) the CofE has been panicking about its long-term survival.
I refer to Archbishop Donald Coggan
Artificial intelligence Leading a Lords debate in June 2026, Archbishop Mullally drew on Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica humanitas to warn that we risk “unleashing AI into our lives and societies without the theological, philosophical and spiritual framework” to direct it.
We were able to quiz Archbishop Stephen Cottrell and other senior members of the Church House staff about their understandings of this.
Diocesan Synod, York Archbishop’s Council, the York Diocesan
As Archbishop William Temple said at one point, the church is the only organisation that is created for those who are not its members.
External relationships We also need to re-establish good relations with our fellow global majority Anglicans who no longer recognise the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
We have a new Archbishop.
I have been involved in the nomination process of numerous diocesan bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
I have spoken in many LLF debates and participated in smaller discernment groups convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In Athens he meets regularly with the orthodox Archbishop of Athens and fellowship with RC, Orthodox, Armenian and Swedish Lutheran Christians in Athens and beyond.
• missioner with the ‘One Life’ Archbishop’s
I have served on Diocesan Synod for over 25 years and on Archbishop’s Council for 20.
I chaired the Vacancy in See committee in our last Arch- episcopal vacancy and served on the Crown Nomination Committee which nominated Archbishop Stephen.
Archbishop’s Council (Current)
I welcome Archbishop Sarah’s recommitment to flourishing local parishes, confirming that the “mixed ecology” was never intended to displace the parish system.
Under our new Archbishop Sarah I hope and pray that we can become a simpler and humbler church, restoring confidence in our safeguarding processes, simplifying national and diocesan structures and lifting the burdens they impose on parishes.
The history making commission which discerned and nominated the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
In the commission for the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I was proud to bring a distinct northern voice, ensuring that the realities and needs of our communities were represented at the highest level of discernment.
of Ely Together and the Treasurer for The Archbishop’s Examination in Theology Trust
Archbishop Cottrell, addressing General Synod in 2021 asserted that we “…need to put Jesus at the centre, and the spiritual, theological and missiological objectives that flows from that.” And a parish church with a well-educated and supported Priest is the very best way to ensure Christ is known.
I would like to enable churches to continue to follow Archbishop Temple’s advice that “The Church is the only organisation that does not exist for itself, but for those who live outside of it,” bringing people into contact with Jesus’ gospel and encouraging them to grow as disciples in accordance with scripture.
The system of alternative episcopal oversight set up by the House of Bishops’ Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests 2014 has worked well, and I believe the Archbishop when she talks about mutual flourishing.
I serve on the Legislative Reform Committee of the Archbishop’s Council seeking to create flexible and pragmatic change to our legal structures and having been a member of the LLF Next Steps Group am now on the Relationships, Sexuality and Gender Pastoral Consultative Group.
priests, bishops and now Archbishop.
I believe church is a ‘space cleared by God through Jesus in which people may become what God made them to be.’ (former Archbishop Rowan Williams).
Inclusion - To approach future debates in the spirit of Archbishop Cottrell’s words – ‘because of our baptism, we already belong to each other.
I am professor of modern Anglicanism in the university, and biographer of our new archbishop: Archbishop Sarah Mullally (Hodder & Stoughton, 2026). For the wider Church of England, I currently serve on the Faith and Order Commission, and the Liturgical Commission.
I returned home to become the first female CEO of one of our National Church Institutions (NCI’s) and Principal Advisor to the then Archbishop of York, Sentamu.
Governance and leadership: o Member of the PCC for the parish of St Laurence in Thanet since 2019 o Member of Deanery Synod since 2022 o Lay Chair of Deanery Synod since 2023 o Elected member of Diocesan Synod since 2024 o Elected member of the Archbishop’s Council, December 2025 o Member of the IT and Data Protection Board, and the Investment Committee
The election comes at a significant moment in our history: we have our first woman Archbishop of Canterbury.
only be able to complete if I am re-elected to Synod), in which capacity I have participated in the nomination of a dozen diocesan bishops including the Archbishop of Canterbury
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on human relationships and society During a House of Lords debate in June 2026 Archbishop Sarah Mullally’s central argument was that AI must be “pro-human”.
It is clear from the Archbishop of York’s speech at the last session in York, in which he emphasised the importance of traditional parish ministry, that STP have changed the narrative so that the Church now recognises the central importance of our parishes.
Proud to have been consecrated by Archbishop Sarah, I also fully hold to the Five Guiding Principles and the ideals of mutual flourishing, valuing the contribution traditionalist Catholics bring to the Church of England and wanting to see that tradition thrive in the life of the Church.
Governor of Archbishop Blanch CE School (2005-2010)
I am hopeful that the new General Synod under the leadership of the new Archbishop, the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, will look more favourably toward rural parishes after working with people that can explain their needs.
I am now the York Provincial President for Mothers' Union and was commissioned in York Minster by the Archbishop of York.
Momentum must not be lost and we must ensure that the Archbishop of Canterbury and wider church leadership continue to be supported in speaking into this crucial national conversation. ➢ I firmly believe that local parishes can be the site of real spiritual growth, journeying, care, meaning and community.
Archbishop Rowan asked me (as then chair of the Junia Network – a group representing evangelical ordained women) to serve on this when it was set up in 2011.
The Archbishop of York said in his closing address at the last General Synod that church schools are ‘one of our greatest treasures’: in them thousands of children and adults have daily contact with the Christian faith and its potential to transform lives.
• Return to Formula Funding: The Archbishop’s
I also volunteer as a member of the Diocese of York Racial Justice and Intercultural Ministry Task Group and as an elected member of the York Archbishop’s Council.
During a reflection early in her role as Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Sarah spoke about the important place of the parish within the church; I am fully committed to our parish system which has been described as “the heart of the Church of England” and has been for many centuries.
In the words of Archbishop Temple,“The Church is the only institution that exists primarily for the benefit of those who are not its members.”.
We have a new Archbishop, a new and more sympathetic Chairman of the Archbishop’s Finance Committee and most importantly, we are now beginning to see positive change.
At present, I am a member of Lastingham PCC, the Northern Ryedale Deanery Synod, the Diocesan Synod, the York Archbishop’s council, and the HR Reference group for the council.
I am hopeful that this, along with some other archaic practices, can be addressed under the guidance of our current archbishop.
e Previous and current membership of York Diocesan Synod and Archbishop’s Council.
I have been on Advisory Panels alongside (now) Archbishop Sarah, appointing two bishops and two archdeacons.
I’m an elected member of Bishop’s Council and was appointed in 2025 by the Archbishop of York as a member of the panel of chairs for General Synod.
One particularly memorable moment was chairing the first Presidential Address delivered by a female Archbishop of Canterbury.
To contact me, please email: [email protected] ‘What kind of soil do we need to tend for God’s word to take root and grow in our hearts, in the parishes and communities we serve, across the world – in the whole created order?’ Archbishop of
To grow, the Church must be bolder in “sharing the joy, beauty and challenge of the Gospel”. (Archbishop of York, July 2026)
From 2009-14 I served as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs, based at Lambeth Palace supporting the
Archbishop’s ministry in the Anglican Communion.
I retired last year and my only ongoing commitment is as chairman of The Robert Thompson Charities, where I succeeded my friend and fellow trustee Sir William Fittal who was secretary-general of the Archbishop's Council and the General Synod.
To quote Stuart Blanch (former Archbishop of York) ‘Politics is too important to leave to the politicians’- the church must be in every area of life and helping to build communities in harmony particularly at a multi-cultural engagement level with people who choose to make their home here through being economic migrants or through seeking asylum due to terror.
One outcome was the work around ensuring better representation of women clergy on every CNC, which Archbishop Sarah subsequently presented.
I celebrate the appointment of Archbishop Sarah Mullally, who spoke in her first Address of the need for prayerful unity and courage in difficult conversations.
I was on the Clergy Conduct Measure Revision Committee and have also been a member of a committee of Archbishop’s Council - the Advisory Group for the Terms and Wellbeing of Ministers, which works to ensure that our clergy are well cared for and can thrive in parish ministry. ● I am also Vice Chair of our Vacancy in See Committee and have been elected to the Crown Nominations Commission to help us find the 100th Bishop of Lichfield in the coming months. ● My experience of being a trustee of CPAS and Church Society helps inform my governance work in the wider church, together with service as a governor at our church school for over ten years, and on CEEC and Lichfield Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. ● I’m married to Neil, a vicar, and we have three young adult children, and a large lurcher.
I understand the finances of the C of E having served as an elected member of the Finance Committee of the Archbishop’s Council for six years.
Member of the Bishop’s Advisory Group for the appointment of the current Area Bishop of Stafford Served the Diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission for the appointment of the retiring Bishop of Lichfield Former chairman of Governors to two Primary Schools Served on Bishop’s Council and of the Diocesan Finance and Asset Management Committee until appointed to Archbishop’s Council Past member of Stafford Area Mission and Pastoral Committee Past member of the Diocesan Advisory Committee
I am curious to see whether that culture will continue under Archbishop Sarah, and if elected, I would be invested in finding ways that can transform an often difficult and divisive place into one that reflects the fruits of the Spirit – otherwise, it will be no good for anything or anyone!
assist in the discernment for the new Archbishop of Canterbury – an experience which was one of the most extraordinary and challenging of my life.