THE BISHOP OF CROYDON CONSECRATED IN A “SPIRITUALLY UPLIFTING AND JOY-FILLED” SERVICE AT SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL
The new Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, was consecrated on Friday 24 June, at Southwark Cathedral, in what she described as a “spiritually uplifting and joy-filled” service. Bishop Rosemarie is the Diocese of Southwark’s first female Bishop and third black Bishop – the first being her fellow Barbadian countryman, the Rt Revd Wilfred Wood, now retired – the second, the Rt Revd Dr Woyin Karowei Dorgu, currently serving as Bishop of Woolwich.
The consecration was attended by family, friends and parishioners, not only from the Diocese of Southwark, but from across the country, including clergy, bishops and local and international dignitaries. Well-wishers flooded social media with messages of congratulations, prayers and encouragement.
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun said, “I am thankful that Bishop Rosemarie Mallett has joined the Episcopal Team as Bishop of Croydon. Bishop Rosemarie brings good local knowledge, having served as Archdeacon of Croydon, as well as a wealth of experience from her years as an academic, parish priest and heading the Diocese’s Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation department. Her love and compassion for the communities she serves shines through and I look forward to working with her in the years to come.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd, Justin Welby, said in a tweet after the service, “The grace and goodness of God was so visible at Rosemarie Mallett’s consecration as Bishop of Croydon at Southwark Cathedral today. Praying for Bishop Rosemarie and the wonderful communities she serves.”
Bishop Rosemarie said, “I feel completely humbled and privileged to be called to serve God as a bishop in his church and to lead his people as we work to build the kingdom in the Croydon Episcopal Area which stretches out into East Surrey. I am looking forward to getting to know more of the churches and church schools and para-church projects in the whole episcopal area, and to offer my support to their mission and ministry.”
In a moving and powerful sermon, the Revd Prebendary Sandra McCalla, Chaplain to the Bishop of London, said, “Today, you answer this onerous, yet joyful call to serve not just you but the whole body of witnesses, including those who have travelled across seas and continents to come and see what the Lord has done.”
The service was recorded and can be watched here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3IwgP4BYlw
Short Biography of the Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett
Born Bridgetown, Barbados, January 1959
1982-1983 Researcher/Administrator, Eastern and Southern African Universities Research Project (ESAURP), University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1983-1985 Research Administrator, Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1985-1986 Research Assistant, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, Brighton
1986-1987 Research and Development Project, Commonwealth Secretariat, HQ, London
1987-1988 Project Administrator (Research) Co-operative Advisory Group, London
1988-1989 Consultant, Swedish Development Agency
1989-1990 Research Fellow, Institute of Social & Economic Research, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
1991-2002 Research Sociologist (Senior), Medical Research Council, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London
1995-1997 Honorary Lecturer, Department of Legal, Political and Social Sciences, South Bank University, London
2002-2004 Chief Executive Officer, Brent Black Mental Health Consortium
2004 – 2007 Curacy at Christ Church, Brixton
2007-2020 Priest-in-Charge from December 2007, then Vicar from March 2013, St John the Evangelist, Angell Town
2015-2020 Public Policy Adviser then Director of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation, Diocese of Southwark (part-time)
2020-present Archdeacon of Croydon
