The Prime Minister’s Office issued the press release below this morning. There are more details on the Liverpool diocesan website.
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool.
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street
Published 27 March 2026
The King has approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Simon Joseph Robinson, BA Hons, Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s Truro, to the Suffragan See of Warrington, in the Diocese of Liverpool, in succession to the Right Reverend Beverley Mason, BA, following her resignation.
Background
Simon was educated at Warwick University and trained for ministry on the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme. He served his title at St. Peter’s, Freshford, St Mary’s, Limpley Stoke and St John’s, Hinton Charterhouse in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, and was ordained priest in 2013. Simon was appointed Vicar of the Parish of Minehead in 2015.
From 2022, Simon served as Interim Dean and Canon Missioner at Truro Cathedral and was appointed to his current roles of Dean of Truro Cathedral and Rector of St. Mary’s in 2024.
Another wonderful appointment. Simon will be such a gift to that diocese.
Very pleased to hear this appointment. I know Simon from his time in Bath & Wells, he is a pastoral, wise and prayerful man with much experience. Liverpool are fortunate to have him.
I like Simon, he’s a very nice man. Is it not odd to appoint while the Diocesan See is vacant?
Does that leave Truro cathedral with only one member of clergy?
How was he appointed in the absence of a Diocesan?
As I understand it an acting bishop (or in this case an interim bishop) has all the delegated authority (either from the diocesan bishop, or in this case from the archbishop), except the ability to delegate further. So they can recruit, and either they or the archbishop can give names to the king through the usual mechanism. Perhaps the new suffragan will require a commission from the archbishop in order to exercise episcopal ministry until there is a diocesan bishop in place. Of course, I am just speculating! The legal basis for this is the Dioceses Pastoral and Mission Measure… Read more »
He hasn’t done very long as Dean. All those house moves and redecoration!
I agree considering the financial constraints that the parishes are enduring. There are lots of examples of senior clergy moving after 3 years of so.
,… which in turn has to do with significant numbers of senior clergy retiring at the moment.
Do the Church Commissioners have shares in B&Q. Asking for a friend.
Farrow & Ball darling!
For the record I remember him valuing gospel simplicity and running the most completely eco-centred, plastic and chemical free house of anyone I know. So probably not.
It is interesting to see nothing but praise for this appointment. I offer a different perspective, as someone at Truro. This is yet another leader who – just like the previous Bishop of Truro – arrived promising much, delivered relatively little, did not stay long, and has been promoted for it. This sort of behaviour is not a good look for leaders of the Anglican communion. Apart from championing a new ‘Carols with Pride’ Christmas service (which has been highly divisive), I am unconvinced that Simon has left a particularly good legacy at Truro, and his jumping ship so soon… Read more »
I’m sure a lot of prayer goes into these appointments so we can only wonder at the work of the Holy Spirit in these matters. She sends a steady stream of clerics into central London and Cambridge but not so much to the Fens or Scunthorpe for example.
I recall a now-retired suffragan commenting how remarkable it was that the Holy Spirit called so many to minister in the Thames Valley….
It’s strange how the Holy Spirit calls only men to His RC church, but She allows women to be ordained in the CofE.
Truro is my home diocese and from bits I’ve picked up I don’t think its been an easy ride for Simon and I think he deserves some credit for managing the difficulties he’s encountered. He may well have been ‘sold’ a situation that was “full of potential” but been frustrated by events over which he had no control. He wouldn’t be the first – and won’t be the last.
Thanks interesting, David. Are you able to elaborate on this at all including the difficulties and situation he was faced with?
Not in any way that I’d like to elaborate on. I’m just not really sold on the ‘people who promise much and don’t deliver’ notion. In situ the realities of the task are sometimes quite different from those perceived from the outside, even those presented at interview. I began my last job as a Team Rector in a multi parish team where the closure of one church had been an issue for years and was seen as the answer to all problems. ‘Do X and it will all fall into place’. Well, it was closed but it had only masked… Read more »
Thank you David.
I am afraid that is a rather mean-spirited comment. The Holy Spirit might have a central place in his move? He is not running to an easy job. The Liverpool clergy will have high expectations of him. One benefit may be that he is welcomed by many gay Christians who worship in his new diocese.
You haven’t seen what he has delivered because a huge amount of it has been behind the scenes getting the governance right and tackling behind the scenes problems, some of which have been in place for decades.
The Reverend Prebendary Gorran Chapman Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral, and Chaplain at Truro Cathedral. I wish to state that I am NOT the “G Chapman” who wrote an earlier comment about The Dean’s departure. Not only am I NOT that person, but the views expressed in that comment are not views I share. I disassociate myself entirely from that contribution to this ladder of comments. I am proud to be a member of the Clergy Team at Truro Cathedral. I was brought into that Team by Dean Simon – he absolutely didn’t have to include me in the way he… Read more »
Thank you Gorran. We share a similar name, but not so similar views. However, in time, I also hope that Simon’s work behind the scenes will become more widely understood and appreciated. You appear to agree that it is not widely known at present. Perhaps, as someone in the ‘inner circle’, you might support Simon’s legacy by reminding us of the things that are better now than they were four years ago. I am glad that you have acknowledged that there are different views in Truro, and you will be aware that Simon’s appointment and swift departure has caused hurt… Read more »
Dear Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms G Chapman, I am all for good debate, perhaps you would like to say hello to me after the Easter Day 10:00AM service. I assume that you will be there. I wonder if it had occurred to you that I am an avid reader of Thinking Anglicans and have watched this comments trail with interest. You question ‘what is different over the past 3 years and 7 months.’ Perhaps I can list just some of the differences for you. The cathedral is now a registered charity. When I arrived little to no work had been achieved on this… Read more »
Sounds good to me!
St Paul may have written a lot on sin, justification, psychology and the cross, but he did not neglect issues of governance.
No doubt St Augustine wrote about it in City of God, but I haven’t (yet) read it.
Good governance may not bring converts, but poor governance without a doubt sends them away.
I know Truro bit, I visited often when I was trying to run a holiday let business in Newquay. Some lawyers there were very helpful to me. Sadly I never entered the cathedral.
I thought, having mentioned but never read City of God, I might look it up a bit and came across this:
https://christoverall.com/article/longform/augustines-the-city-of-god-and-why-it-matters-today/
Concerning Dean of Truro, the sentence
Augustine was at that point (in Hippo) a busy bishop, engaging in the typical challenges of pastoring people, and engaging in multiple administrative tasks
seemed apt.
I watched a livestreamed evensong from Truro Cathedral last year. The Dean’s sermon was very good.