New Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich appointed

The new leader of the Church of England in Suffolk has been announced.

The Right Reverend Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell, Area Bishop of Stepney, succeeds the Right Reverend Martin Seeley, who has retired as The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich after 10 years in the role.

The new bishop will spend the day meeting people within the diocese, including visits to Debenham Church of England High School and St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

She said: "'I am honoured to be called to this role. This is a beautiful diocese, with truly lovely people, and a grounded Suffolk sense of service and humility."

The appointment was announced by Downing Street on Friday morning, with Bishop Grenfell taking up the new position later this year.

"What I'm already discovering is how warm and welcoming people are. I'm excited about getting to know Suffolk and its people better," she said.

''I've had to do some creative strategic work in areas where I've served previously, including developing a vision, putting together funding applications, and overseeing the implementation of mission projects to help the church reach new people, young people, and people from lower income communities.

''I care deeply about our churches being as healthy and safe as possible, in policies, practice, recruitment, training, and, most importantly, in culture."

The diocesan secretary, Gary Peverley, added: "Suffolk is an amazing place and our county welcomes our new bishop with open arms.

"Churches and organisations are working together to serve the community and express their faith and the part the bishop plays within that is key. The bishop is joining a diocese with a strategy and a plan for growth."

Bishop Grenfell was educated at Oriel College, Oxford and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

She trained for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge and has a DPhil from Oxford and was Lecturer in English at Oriel College before ordination.

In 2019, she took up her current role as Area Bishop of Stepney, in the Diocese of London and has been the lead Bishop for safeguarding since May 2023.

But she said she first found out about her role back in 29 April which she said it felt like an "eternity" because she was not allowed to tell anyone.

During a visit to Debenham Church of England High School, Bishop Grenfall said she was "bubbling over with joy" at her new role.

She added: "You feel the weight of responsibility that you know you get to love, serve and care for God and the people of Suffolk.

"It is a big relief today that it is out in the open."

Bishop Grenfall will be moving to Suffolk after previously living in east London. She said one of her first jobs is going to be learning about the community in order to serve them.

She also wants to work with young people and create a church that is authentic to them. "I've given quite a lot of responsibility to young people," she said.

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