Thinking Anglicans

Suffragan Bishop of Berwick

Press release from Number 10

Suffragan Bishop of Berwick: Mark Wroe
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Mark Wroe BA MA, Archdeacon of Northumberland to the Suffragan See of Berwick.

Published 20 October 2020
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street

The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Mark Wroe BA MA, Archdeacon of Northumberland, in the diocese of Newcastle to the Suffragan See of Berwick, in the diocese of Newcastle, in succession to the Right Reverend Mark Tanner following his translation to the See of Chester. Mark was educated at St Mary’s University, London and Anglia Polytechnic University and trained for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his title at All Saints Chilvers Coton with St Mary the Virgin, in the diocese of Coventry and was ordained Priest in 1997.

In 2000, Mark was appointed Priest-in-Charge, and latterly Vicar of St Alban Windy Nook, Gateshead in the diocese of Durham. Mark took up the roles of Priest-in- Charge of St Barnabas and St Jude, and Vicar of Holy Trinity Jesmond in the diocese of Newcastle in 2007. In 2017, Mark was additionally appointed Area Dean of Newcastle Central Deanery. He took up his current role as Archdeacon of Northumberland in 2019, having been Acting Archdeacon since 2018.

There is more on the Newcastle diocesan website.

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D John
D John
3 years ago

A penny for the thoughts of the Dean of Derby!

Anthony
Anthony
Reply to  D John
3 years ago

I would be surprised if he was not delighted on the one hand at the appointment of a good man as the new suffragan Bishop, but on the other feeling rather hurt. The New Suffragan Bishop has only been an Archdeacon for a year, whereas the current Dean of Derby had been an Archdeacon in the Newcastle Diocese for over 10 years and probably felt overlooked for the post previously. He was appointed Dean in Derby this year after serving in the diocese for over 20 years.

Richard
Richard
Reply to  Anthony
3 years ago

Even with a ‘new’ cathedral, I am not sure many would consider a suffragan bishopric as senior – or preferable – to a deanery. (I leave aside the point that episcopal preferment *shouldn’t* be about promotion because I am a pragmatist.)

hayden
hayden
Reply to  Richard
3 years ago

Richard, Good Point Well Made.

Kate
Kate
3 years ago

Interestingly it sounds as though the Archbishop of York will be the consecrator.

Rowland Wateridge
Rowland Wateridge
Reply to  Kate
3 years ago

One would hope so. It’s in his Province, and he has already consecrated in person. As far as I am aware, there has been no authoritative explanation or legislation in consequence of the two Consecrations which took place in the Chapel of Lambeth Palace during ‘lockdown’. An archbishop has the power and discretion to delegate consecration to another bishop, but, in the absence of a very specific reason for doing so, it seems odd and inconsistent to remain present while that happens.

Kate
Kate
Reply to  Rowland Wateridge
3 years ago

Yes but that isn’t what the two archbishops said would happen

https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/news/latest-news/statement-episcopal-consecrations

Rowland Wateridge
Rowland Wateridge
Reply to  Kate
3 years ago

Kate: Sorry, I’m missing your point (and I’m not referring to cases involving the ‘Five Principles’). The Archbishops’ statement was, at best, ambiguous. It created the impression to most TA readers that it represented a permanent change in practice for all Consecrations. However, as soon as he was consecrated, the new Archbishop of York reverted to consecrating personally (with many people giving a deep sigh of relief), and it seems that he is to do so again. So the Archbishops’ statement remains ambiguous and its intentions ought to be clarified.

Paul Waddington
Paul Waddington
3 years ago

We keep hearing of new suffragan bishops being appointed. One wonders why so many bishops are required when congregations are declining so fast, and it looks as if some services will never resume after Covid 19.

Perry Butler
Perry Butler
Reply to  Paul Waddington
3 years ago

And confirmation numbers have sharply declined except among the Provincial Episcopal Visitors and perhaps the public schools.

hayden
hayden
Reply to  Paul Waddington
3 years ago

Who says congregations are declining? Don’t believe everything you read in the secular press. Despite covid 19 generally the churches are doing their best to continue to serve their communities to offer hope reassurance supporting the vulnerable and the fearful. Having said that I agree why do we need so many Bishops?

Last edited 3 years ago by hayden
Robin Goodricke
Robin Goodricke
Reply to  hayden
3 years ago

A short paragraph on p19 of Statistics for Mission 2019 gives data on confirmations. There were 13400 in 2019 which is down 47% on 2009. This is a steeper decline than most of the other participation statistics.

Charles Read
Charles Read
Reply to  Robin Goodricke
3 years ago

Why pick confirmations? They might be declining because we often do not require it as a gateway to receiving communion or because adult conversions are declining or…..

ASA is surely a bit better – but even here masks growth in midweek attendance growing in some places.

Paul Waddington
Paul Waddington
Reply to  hayden
3 years ago

The evidence that congregations are declining is contained in the C of E’s own reports entitled Statistics for Mission published every year. The last set appeared recently. A decline in church attendance has been reported every year for at least the last ten years, which is the time I have been studying them.

For an independent view go to the British Social Attitudes Surveys, also published every year. They report a much faster decline.

Christopher
Christopher
3 years ago

Keep seeing references to Derby that I just don’t understand!

Simon Sarmiento
Reply to  Christopher
3 years ago

The current Dean of Derby was previously the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne.

Fr Andrew Welsby
Fr Andrew Welsby
3 years ago

Title served at the same parish as Welby, J P

Dan Barnes-Davies
3 years ago

I don’t have the stats to hand, but it does feel a little like bishops are still more likely to be succeeded by another white man with the same name than by a woman, or a Black or ethnic minority person…

God 'elp us all
God 'elp us all
3 years ago

Not another one? While sad of course for any and everyone hoping for ‘promotion’/ patronage/ preferment (why?) I hold onto some hope that talent or some kind of (immaterial) ‘gift’ may count for more than time served. Must all have prizes?
Meanwhile it’s good (reassuring?) to know that the former ABC Rowan Williams has vacated his seat in the some-may-say bloated House of Lords, making room for the former ABY should he be deemed worthy.
Anyone know the ratio of CofE bishops: clergy: adherents? Declining?

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