The Bishop of Croydon, The Rt Revd Jonathan Clark, announced today that he will be leaving the Diocese of Southwark on March 21, 2022 – exactly 10 years to the day of his consecration as Bishop.
“I’m sad about all I’ll be leaving, as well as excited about what lies ahead,” said Bishop Jonathan, who will be moving to Orkney with his wife Alison, who will be continuing her academic and creative work. “I plan to write more and will be teaching, leading retreats and offering mentoring support to clergy,” he continued.
The Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, said, “Bishop Jonathan has served the Diocese of Southwark with energy, integrity and vision for ten years as the Bishop of Croydon. He has been a superb colleague and has also served the wider Diocese as Chair of the Southwark Board of Education as well as the national church in various additional roles, particularly on Ministry Council and as one of the lead bishops for refugee issues. I am grateful to him for all he has accomplished, for his companionship in episcopal ministry, and for his loving service of God’s people. He and Alison go with our prayers and gratitude as they move forward to the next stage of life and ministry.”
Bishop Jonathan Clark
Biography
Bishop Jonathan was educated at Exeter University and ordained priest in 1989. After a curacy in Carlisle, he was a chaplain at Bristol University, then Director of Studies of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme. From 1997 to 2003 he was chaplain at the University of North London and from 1999 to 2003 also Area Dean of Islington. He then moved across to Hackney as Rector of Stoke Newington until his episcopal appointment as Bishop of Croydon in 2012.
He is married to Alison, an academic and artist, and the couple have two grown-up children. For the Church of England, he chairs the Ministry Division’s panel which oversees quality in theological education. He is Chair of Southwark Diocese Board of Education, and Co-Chair of the Inter Faith Network UK. He is passionate about social justice, especially for asylum seekers and refugees.
