The Prime Minister’s Office has this morning announced that the next Bishop of Brizworth is to be the Ven Alex Hughes, currently Archdeacon of Cambridge. Further information is on the Peterborough diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of the Venerable Dr Alexander James Hughes, MA, MPhil, to the Suffragan See of Brixworth, in the Diocese of Peterborough.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 8 May 2026
The King has approved the nomination of the Venerable Dr Alexander James Hughes, Archdeacon of Cambridge, in the Diocese of Ely, to the Suffragan See of Brixworth, in the Diocese of Peterborough, in succession to the Right Reverend John Holbrook MA, following his retirement.
Alex was educated at Greyfriars Hall, Oxford and St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge and trained for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge. He served his title at Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry, in the Diocese of Oxford, and was ordained priest in 2001. He was appointed Chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth in 2003.
From 2008, Alex served as Priest in charge and Vicar at St Luke & St Peter, Southsea, and was appointed to his current role of Archdeacon of Cambridge, in the Diocese of Ely, in 2014.
He was born in Honiara, capital of the Solomon Islands, though grew up on the south coast of England. His hobbies include riding his Triumph Bonneville motorcycle and running half-marathons.
An excellent person!
Yes indeed. It’s excellent news for Peterborough diocese, as well as for Alex.
It does, however, leave Ely diocese with a brand new diocesan bishop not yet enthroned, no suffragan bishop, a cathedral dean retiring next month, a diocesan secretary in post for 6 months, and the other (also very good) archdeacon has only been in the diocese for four years. No bishop’s chaplain either.
A great appointment. A pity the announcement doesn’t mention his doctorate, an excellent thesis on the mid-C20th Anglican theologian Oliver Quick, which was subsequently published by Ashgate.
I am glad someone is interested in Quick! He is worth rediscovering – reading him on the sacraments at present.
You have understandable concerns Simon. Although she will be new in post Bishop Sarah she is not new to the Job, having been successful in being the Acting Bishop of Durham for a long time. the lack of support staff is worrying but it gives the Diocese time to reflect on what skills they need as a team in the diocese and once decided then recruit. If its recruitment first then you may find that the people you have don’t fit the vision that has been created. As i have said before hopefully the timescales can be made to overlap… Read more »
With no disrespect at all meant to the individuals who hold or have held these posts, some may see that as a good thing when a new Diocesan is due. Certainly many of my friends up in Manchester would – they tell me all Archidiaconal appointments and most Episcopal appointments in recent history (for which read around 10 years) have been internal appointments and the Cathedral Dean has been longer in post than that, as well as being an internal appointment. They say there is desperate need for some new influences there. Personally, I’d prefer to be in neither of… Read more »
One of two bishops who were at Greyfriars, the other his contemporary the Bishop of Richborough.