10 Downing Street has announced ahead of Yorkshire Day that His Majesty the King has approved the appointments in the Diocese of York of the Reverend Canon Doctor Flora Winfield as Suffragan Bishop of Selby, and of the Reverend Barry Hill as the Suffragan Bishop of Whitby.
As Suffragan Bishops in the Diocese of York, the Bishops of Selby and Whitby minister with the Bishop of Hull alongside the Archbishop of York.
Flora Winfield is very well-known in the Diocese of Leeds and the Church of England nationally, and internationally.
She is married to the Ven Jonathan Gough, Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven and her ministry to date has spanned the Dioceses of Oxford, Gloucester, Winchester, London, and Leeds. Ordained deacon in 1989 and priest in 1994, Flora was among the first women to be ordained in the Church of England. Since 2022, she has been the Third Church Estates Commissioner, among other things chairing the Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon Programme Board.
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, said, “I’m delighted that Flora Winfield and Barry Hill have agreed to come and serve with us here in the York Diocese as Bishops of Selby and Whitby. They will be consecrated on the feast day of Saint Paulinus, the first Bishop of York in the 7th century, and I hope this will be a sign of the missionary purpose they will bring to our life in Christ. Both are hugely gifted and experienced; they are people of depth and faith.”
Looking ahead, Flora said: “I am delighted and humbled to respond to this call to be the next Bishop of Selby, and I am looking forward so much to working with Archbishop Stephen, with fellow bishops, the Archdeacon of York, clergy, and parishes, building on the tremendous commitment to this ministry of Bishop John, to support and encourage God’s people in ministry, mission and evangelism, service, worship, study, prayer, hospitality, community, and life together.”
Archbishop Stephen said: “Flora knows the Church inside out and has served the Church in a huge variety of contexts, be it as an Army Chaplain, representing the Anglican Communion at the United Nations, or helping the Church of England nationally sort out some of its most thorny pastoral challenges - and more besides!”
The Rt Revd David Urquhart, Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, said: “Flora Winfield’s appointment is good news for the Diocese of York and the Church of England. She brings a wealth of experience in the local and national Church, both as a parish priest and as the Third Church Estates Commissioner. Flora is a compassionate pastor and evangelist who understands the importance of fostering ecumenical and interfaith relations and I have been pleased to witness the impact of her ministry over many years. Her superb administrative gifts, and commitment to collaboration, prayer, and unity will be a great blessing as she serves with Archbishop Stephen and colleagues in the Diocese of York.”
Barry Hill will be joining the Diocese of York from his current ministry in the Diocese of Leicester.
The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, said: “Barry has been a part of the Diocese of Leicester for nearly 20 years and while we will be very sorry to say goodbye to him, we are also very pleased that God has called him to be Bishop of Whitby in the Diocese of York. We give thanks to God for his vision, energy, and passion for the Gospel, and we pray for him and his family in this significant transition.”
The consecrations of the Bishops of Selby and Whitby will take place on 10th October 2024 at York Minster; further details will be published when confirmed.