THE new Bishop of Ebbsfleet is to be Canon Jonathan Goodall, the
Archbishop of Canterbury's Ecumenical Secretary, it was announced
last Friday.
Canon Goodall, who is 52, succeeds the Rt Revd Jonathan Baker,
who was translated to the see of Fulham last year (News, 2
November). Ebbsfleet is one of two Canterbury suffragan sees
for Provincial Episcopal Visitors (PEVs), who provide oversight to
traditionalists in the Southern Province, in line with the 1993 Act
of Synod. The other is the see of Richborough.
The sees of Ebbsfleet and Richborough were left vacant in 2011
when their respective bishops, Mgr Andrew Burnham and Mgr Keith
Newton, seceded to the RC Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.
The then Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Williams, said at the time
that the "pastoral need" of traditionalists was "not going to go
away". (
News, 13 May 2011)
Canon Goodall said last Friday: "I am delighted, as I'm sure
many will be, that Archbishop Justin is demonstrating his love and
care and commitment to our whole Church by bringing the number of
Provincial Episcopal Visitors up to full strength.
"Although it's a time of upheaval and uncertainty, I'm eager to
be with the parishes who belong to the See of Ebbsfleet and to
serve as them as bishop, which has to mean giving my life for them.
But not only for them: as Bishop, I promise to give my life to the
Church of God as a whole, and to build up the faith, trust, and
mutual respect that will bring our witness to life."
Next Bishop of Tewkesbury. The Archdeacon of
Sheffield and Rotherham, the Ven. Martyn Snow, has been appointed
Bishop of Tewkesbury, in Gloucester diocese, it was announced last
Friday. Archdeacon Snow, who is 45, will succeed the Rt Revd John
Went, who retired in April.