The Diocese of Edinburgh, in the Scottish Episcopal Church has announced the election as its next bishop, of Dr Dagmar Winter, currently suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon in the diocese of Ely, and acting Bishop of Ely.
New Bishop Elected for the Diocese of Edinburgh
The Right Reverend Dr Dagmar Winter was elected yesterday, 14 February 2026, as the new Bishop of Edinburgh. She will take up her new post later in the year.
Bishop Dagmar becomes the Bishop-Elect of Edinburgh following the retirement in August 2025 of the Rt Rev Dr John Armes who served as Bishop of Edinburgh for 13 years.
The Bishop-Elect accepted the post following a meeting of the Electoral Synod in St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, where she received over half of the votes in each house, with clergy and lay representatives from congregations across the diocese voting.
Bishop Dagmar currently serves as the Bishop of Huntingdon, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ely. Since 2023 she is also Acting Bishop of Ely.
She is Vice-President of the Conference of European Churches which runs a number of projects, especially Pathways to Peace, a coordinated response of the European church fellowship to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With a particular interest in New Testament scholarship, she has contributed to a number of English and German books and journals.
Bishop Dagmar studied at the Universities of Erlangen, Aberdeen and Heidelberg. She was ordained as deacon in 1996 and as priest in 1997. From 1995 to 1999 she served as curate at St Mark’s, Bromley, Kent, and was Assistant Chaplain at Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust. From 1999 to 2006 she was Associate Vicar at Hexham Abbey and Deanery Training Officer in the Diocese of Newcastle. From 2006 to 2015 she was Priest-in-Charge of Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle & Kirkheaton, and Cambo in Northumberland, and the Officer for Rural Affairs for the Diocese of Newcastle. In 2010 she became Area Dean of Morpeth and in 2011 Honorary Canon of Newcastle Cathedral. From 2012 to 2019 she was Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry, returning in 2015 to Hexham Abbey as Rector and Lecturer. She was consecrated as a bishop in 2019.
Following the election, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Mark Strange, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Bishop Dagmar as Bishop-Elect into this new season of ministry in the Scottish Episcopal Church, and I am looking forward to welcoming her to the College of Bishops. The gifts she brings will enhance the life and mission of the Church.
“I would also like to thank everyone who took part in the process — those who offered themselves and tested their discernment, as well as members of the Electoral Synod, Diocesan Officers, Preparatory Committee, diocesan staff and Bishop Andrew, Convener of the Electoral Process, for their prayerful work.
“Please keep Bishop Dagmar in your prayers as we plan her installation and new beginnings in Scotland.”
The Bishop-Elect said:
“I am hugely honoured to have been elected as the next Bishop of Edinburgh and would like to thank most warmly all those involved in the thorough process, indeed, in electing me.
“I rejoice in the diversity and inclusivity of the Diocese of Edinburgh and can’t wait to get to know all the clergy and people in the charges from the Tweed to the Firth of Forth — your joys, your challenges, your opportunities. I firmly believe that the Scottish Episcopal Church has a unique voice to share in today’s world, and I am committed to supporting and encouraging all who contribute to its mission and ministry and to raising its profile further. I also look forward to joining the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
“As I pray for you, please pray for me as I prepare to leave Ely and join you in Edinburgh.
“Only last night I confirmed some young people, preaching on John 20:19-end, and told them ‘as Jesus was sent, so he sends us’. It will be exciting to discover with you where God will lead us. The one who calls us is faithful — this is our joy, our hope and our strength.”
An excellent appointment for Edinburgh but a loss to us in East Anglia. Dagmar has a PhD in New testament for those who moan that we don’t appoint scholarly bishops anymore. She was chair of the governing body of the TEI on which I teach and was wise and supportive. Ely ordinands speak highly of how supportive she has been to them.
Some of us are really happy to welcome her Charles but do pray for her edinburgh and Ely.
I did wonder if she might become the next Bishop of Durham, given the history of the Diocese of Durham for scholarly bishops like Bishop Lightfoot, Bishop Foss Brooke Westcott, Bishop Michael Ramsey, Bishop Ian Ramsey, Bishop David Jenkins and more recently before Bishop Justin Welby, Bishop Tom Wright. Durham could yet get a scholar Bishop as its next Bishop. Jonathan
A huge loss to the Church of England when you come down to it. But as someone who is hard working, cooperative, unostentatious and definitely not homophobic arguably not the best fit south of the border if the recent Synod is anything to go by
I’m delighted for her. Ely’s loss, but I think Edinburgh diocese is blessed in receiving a wise and faithful bishop.