Press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. There is more on the Carlisle diocesan website.
Appointment of Bishop of Carlisle: 9 May 2025
The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, for election as Bishop of Carlisle
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 9 May 2025
The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Robert Saner-Haigh, Suffragan Bishop of Penrith in the Diocese of Carlisle, for election as Bishop of Carlisle, in succession to The Right Reverend James William Scobie Newcome, following his retirement.
Background
Rob was educated at Birmingham University and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St. Lawrence, Appleby in the Diocese of Carlisle, and was ordained Priest in 2006. He was appointed Diocesan Initial Ministerial Education Officer in 2007 and Diocesan Director of Ordinands in 2008. Alongside both of these roles he served as Bishop’s Chaplain and Assistant Priest at St. Michael’s, Dalston, with Cumdivock, Raughton Head and Wreay. In 2010, he was appointed Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Kendal and, from 2020, served as Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle and Residentiary Canon of Newcastle Cathedral.
In 2022, Rob took up his current role as Suffragan Bishop of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle and, since 2023, he has served as Acting Bishop of Carlisle.
Penrith to Carlise is becoming a bit of an habit. Once is an innovation – twice in a row becomes a tradition.
But James was not the first. Cyril Bulley made that move in the 1960s. Cumbria values continuity in a very particular way, and sometimes the internal candidate may become very obviously the right candidate.
Evangelicals becoming bishops seems to be a bit of a habit too!
In case you hadn’t noticed, Carlisle’s Diocesan bishops have been generally of a central-low tradition over many years. The current appointment is hardly indicative of a national trend.
I had noticed.
However there does seem to be a national trend.
James was head of my house, senior prefect, and full back for school and my house. I always remember he got down on his knees and prayed before getting into bed.
Man of integrity and decency, at least at school. Thrashing by prefects was banned by my time, but he was never a thrasher type anyway.
Nearly in tears when he missed a tackle in a house final rugger match and we lost.
The Church of England clearly needs good muscular rugger- playing chaps from the better public schools to keep our noses to the grindstone.
Ha ha! I also ran a lot with Nick McKinnel, who was quite good in his youth, used to win most cross country competitions and county championships.
nobody would ever have accused me of being muscular. Weedy would have been more accurate. Maybe that is why I didn’t become a bishop (or priest).
Absolutely. Get back on the fives court and the rugger pitch and don’t get too serious about all this religion stuff unless you get invited to a Bash Camp!
Out of interest may I ask which school that was? (it’s not named in the press release or +James’ wikapedia)
In 1966 Bishop Bulley was also translated from Penrith to Carlisle.