Search to find new bishop for church’s oldest diocese

Successor needed to replace Right Reverend Trevor Willmott

The search for a new Bishop of Dover has begun as the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott prepares to retire.

The post carries responsibility for the whole Canterbury Diocese, which also stretches across the districts of Maidstone, Swale, Thanet, Folkestone and Hythe and Ashford.

Holding the additional title of the Bishop of Canterbury, Bishop Trevor, 68, hit the headlines last summer for outspoken comments on Universal Credit and urging the Government to “fix” its new benefit system.

A series of consultations is now underway to find a successor, an appointment which will be approved by the Prime Minister.

The diocese’s director of communications, Anna Drew, says a wide range of views is being sought on who should lead the Church of England’s oldest jurisdiction, known as a “see”.

“The Canterbury Diocese is such a range of communities, she said. “We go from the Weald and all the way across to Maidstone, that’s our eastern edge, and we also take in the coastline and the Isle of Sheppey.

“It’s a really interesting and diverse place, so it’s important to get a range of views about what kind of Bishop we need.

“The Bishop is the spiritual leader for the area, but also provides political leadership. We’ve seen the Archbishop of Canterbury, for example, talk about how Brexit is going to affect Kent and how a no-deal Brexit could be disastrous for our community.”

The process will be overseen on behalf of the Diocese by a Vacancy in See Committee, but a final decision will be taken by a body called the Crown Nomination Commission and ratified by Downing Street.

Bishop Trevor, who served for nine years, leaves in May. It is hoped his successor will be in post by the end of the year.

■ Email views to caroline.boddington@churchofengland.org.

Bishop of Dover, the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, is stepping down in May