THE next Suffragan Bishop of Hertford, in the diocese of St Albans, will be the Ven. Dr Jane Mainwaring, Downing Street announced on Thursday morning.

She succeeds Dr Michael Beasley, who was translated to Bath & Wells (News, 29 April).

Dr Mainwaring is currently the Archdeacon of St Albans, a post that she has held since 2020. For 17 years, she was Team Vicar at St Mark’s, Hitchin, in the same diocese.

Before moving to St Albans, Dr Mainwaring served her title at St Gregory’s, Sudbury, in the diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich.

Before her ordination in 2000, Dr Mainwaring completed a Ph.D. at Trinity College, Carmarthen, researching Church of England and Church in Wales primary schools.

Dr Mainwaring’s nomination is the first episcopal appointment to be approved by the King; other appointments announced since the death of Queen Elizabeth II — such as Dr Helen-Ann Hartley as the next Bishop of Newcastle (News, 28 October), and Dr John Perumbalath as the next Bishop of Liverpool (News, 21 October) — had been approved before she died.

The Bishop of St Albans, Dr Alan Smith, said: “I am thrilled that Jane Mainwaring is going to be the next Bishop of Hertford. She is already well known within the diocese, having served here as a parish priest, rural dean, and archdeacon. Her deep faith and pastoral heart have endeared her to those with whom she has worked, and I have no doubt she will be a superb bishop.”

Dr Mainwaring said that she “couldn’t be more honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to continue to serve the churches, schools, chaplaincies, and communities of this county in this new capacity.

“I look forward to deepening existing relationships and establishing new ones, as we seek to share God’s love and hope together.”

Dr Mainwaring is expected to be installed on 2 February.