The new Bishop of Kingston, The Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough was consecrated on Thursday 2 February, at Canterbury Cathedral.
Bishop Martin succeeds The Rt Revd Dr Richard Cheetham who retired last year, in October 2022 and his consecration follows the announcement approved by His Majesty The King on 16 December 2022.
On the eve of his consecration, Bishop Martin said, “This is a hugely exciting moment. I am deeply conscious of the trust the Church has put in me and pray that I will be worthy of it. I think particularly of the clergy and parishes in the Kingston Episcopal Area with whom I will share in God’s mission in this place. My prayers are for them. I think also with thanksgiving of my family and friends, those who have supported me along the way, of colleagues old and new. The God who has come to us in Jesus Christ is doing a new thing!”
The service attended by bishops, clergy and laity from across the country was described by Bishop Martin as “beautiful and very moving” as friends, family and parishioners joined to celebrate his consecration.
The consecration concluded with a round of applause from the congregation, which was described as “utter joy” by The Most Revd Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury .
The Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Revd Christopher Chessun said, “I rejoice that Bishop Martin is now part of the Episcopal team and know that his deanery gatherings over the coming weeks will be an opportunity for him to be welcomed into each and every community in the Kingston Episcopal Area. I commend him and his family to your continued prayers.”
The service was livestreamed and a recording can be watched here: https://bit.ly/3wOKz3x
Short Biography of The Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough
1991-1992 Research Assistant, BBC Monitoring, Caversham
1992-1996 Asia-Pacific Editor, Oxford Analytica
1996-2001 PhD Research
2001-2012 Academic roles in universities of Warwick, London and Bristol
2010-2013 Curate, St Luke’s Barton Hill
2012-2018 Professor of Development Politics, University of Bristol
2013-2016 Priest-in-Charge, St Luke’s Barton Hill, Bristol
2016–2018 Canon Theologian at Bristol Cathedral
2019-Present Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol and Residentiary Canon
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