The Diocese of Southwark has published its Statement of Needs to support the discernment of who will become next Bishop of Southwark. The Statement sets out a picture of the diocese – its people, places, vision, challenges and hopes – and the leadership that’s needed for the next stage of its journey.
The current Bishop of Southwark – The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun – announced his retirement in late 2025 and is due to leave the diocese in August this year. This has triggered what’s known as the ‘Vacancy-in-See’ process – the formal period when the diocese and the national Church work together to discern and appoint the next diocesan bishop.
As part of this process, a public consultation was held which sought the views of people from congregations and communities across south London and east Surrey. Feedback from the consultation helped the Vacancy-in-See Committee to shape the Statement of Needs, which paints a picture of an extraordinarily diverse diocese stretching from the urban estates and city streets of South London to the vibrant rural communities of East Surrey. It also sets out what the diocese hopes for in its next Bishop of Southwark:
“We’re praying for a pastoral-hearted bishop who has discerned God’s call to lead our diocese: a leader who can speak powerfully and prophetically of God’s love both within and beyond the Church. Someone who will prayerfully guide us in loving, blessing and serving our parishes, who will enable worshipping communities of all traditions to grow and flourish, and who can inspire us in proclaiming the Gospel afresh. Someone who will seek to discern God’s work among us, helping us to meet the challenges before us with courage, wisdom and trust in the God who goes before us.”
The Vacancy‑in‑See Committee has also elected six of its members to sit on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for this appointment. They are:
- The Revd Dr Charlie Baczyk-Bell
- Mrs Rebecca Chapman
- Mr Peter Graystone
- The Very Revd Dr Mark Oakley
- The Revd Canon Gill O’Neill
- Miss Rosemary Wilson
These six join national representatives and the Archbishops’ and Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretaries to shortlist, interview, and agree a name to recommend to be the next diocesan Bishop.
“We’re hugely grateful to the thousands of people of all ages who shared their views with us – as well as to our dedicated Committee members,” reflected the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon and Chair of the Vacancy-in-See Committee. “This Statement of Needs is the product of many hours of discussion and much prayerful discernment. We hope it will guide the Crown Nominations Commission in their work – and that it will capture the imaginations of those who may be exploring a potential call to this significant role.”
