The Prime Minister’s Office issued the press release below this morning. There is more information on the Carlisle diocesan website.
Appointment of the Suffragan Bishop of Penrith: 11th March 2026
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Michael John Leyden, BA, MA, MSt, PhD, to the Suffragan See of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 11 March 2026
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Michael John Leyden BA, MA, MSt, PhD, Dean and CEO of Emmanuel Theological College, to the Suffragan See of Penrith, in the Diocese of Carlisle, in succession to the Right Reverend Robert James Saner-Haigh, MA, MPhil, following his translation to the See of Carlisle.
Michael grew up in Merseyside and was educated at Oxford University and Chester University and trained for ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham. He served his title at St Ann’s, Rainhill, in the Diocese of Liverpool. Following a secondment to St Mellitus College, North-West, Michael was appointed half-time Incumbent of the Benefice of Weston with Shavington in 2014, in the Diocese of Chester, alongside working half-time as Lead Academic Tutor at St Mellitus College. In 2018, Michael was appointed full-time Director of St Mellitus College, North-West, and in 2019 he was licensed as Associate Priest of St Peter’s, Chester.
In 2021, Michael took up his current role as Dean and CEO of Emmanuel Theological College.
and so the era of millennial bishops begins!
I’m starting not to know much about some of these new bishops! However, adding some scholarship to the College of Bishops can only be good. Looking on Amazon, his new book Living Eucharistically looks interesting, but we are going to have to wait for it!
Regarding scholarship – you’d hope so wouldn’t you? However, having spent most of the last 30 years steeped in the vanities and naked ambition as well as the great joy of academic life I’d counsel caution. Penrith may have previous with Bishops fresh out of College which will make some people justifiably very nervous.
It interests me that, looking down recent postings, we learn of the appointment of 3 male bishops, the death of one, one being suspended and two announcing retirement. Does anyone have statistics handy to show whether we are nearing gender parity as time goes on or whether the proportion of female bishops remains stubbornly low more than a decade from the first consecrations?
Ministry Statistics, compiled by one of my colleagues, are available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/data-services/key-areas-research#ministry-statistics. The most recent figures relate to 31st December 2025; earlier versions are available too. After a bit of a hiatus in recent years, we’re trying to get into a pattern of publishing several updates each year, since thanks to a lot of work behind the scenes the figures can now be produced almost at the press of a button, rather than requiring several months’ of painstaking fiddly work. As ever, thanks to the marvellous diversity of ministry, not everything is as simple as one might hope – please… Read more »
Simon Kershaw is the expert to be consulted on questions like this.
Well, of course, 2026 has produced the first ever woman Archbishop of Canterbury. Subject to correction, by my reckoning there are currently 10 female Diocesans and 26 female Suffragans.
The imbalance is more obvious in the case of Diocesans who are, of course, subject to the uncertainties of the CNC process, while Suffragans are appointed by their Diocesan.
I am reminded that both the figures I have quoted do not take account of current vacancies, of which there are several in both categories.
Peter Owen and Simon Sarmiento were also responsible for the source of the details extracted, so the whole TA team to be credited.
This is another interesting appointment. I’ve met him a few times over the years, and know a few former colleagues of his and some who were taught by him. I found him very intelligent and personable when I met him, and he has a background pre ordination that his excellent set of degrees disguise – proudly working class, which is very good to see. Those I know who were taught by him praise his teaching ability very highly and say he’s capable of being a good and sensitive pastor. But they (and some former colleagues) also comment that he can… Read more »
When a bishop has a spouse who is ordained and has a ministry of their own. Based on the assumption that they will move with the bishop and want to continue in ministry, are they “found” a new posting in the new diocese, or one close by
I’ve never been enough on the inside with episcopal appointments to know the answer to that one, but I hope there’s something good and fulfilling for Dr Leyden’s wife. I’ve never met her, but those I know who have say she’s a very gifted priest and intelligent theologian. I really hope those gifts find a way to be used well and she doesn’t just end up second fiddle to an episcopal spouse.
‘One for the price of two’? Being somewhat pro-vocative, I find myself wondering how much thought was given to issues relating to ordained couples 30 years or so ago- none I hope, as God is in charge. Does ‘one flesh’ suggest ‘one mind’? It being recognized that women and spouses have minds of their own, and direct relationship with God, no longer being expected to ‘obey’ a marriage partner, how does that ‘square’ with ‘canonical obedience’ to a spouse bishop? One for an ‘intelligent theologian’ to consider, and/or whoever ‘decides’ such matters? Much the same issue of ‘finding posts’ applies… Read more »
Dr Leyden’s wife is staying in her role in Chester!
I see that Dr Leyden isn’t listed in Crockford, though his wife is. I wonder why?
Presumably he didn’t give GDPR consent.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side!
But why did he want to get to the other side/wish to refuse GDPR consent. That is the question.