THE next deputy lead bishop for safeguarding in the Church of England is to be the Bishop of Tewkesbury, in the diocese of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Robert Springett.

An announcement on the C of E website on Tuesday said that he would focus on “liaison with diocesan bishops” on behalf of the National Safeguarding Steering Group. He will also be a member of the National Safeguarding Panel, the Theology of Safeguarding Group, and the Safeguarding Programme Board, and attend the House of Bishops.

Bishop Springett takes over from the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, whose three-year term is ending, and who is also a member of the Anglican Communion Safe Church Commission. As a member of the House of Lords, she will continue both to co-chair the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities and to speak on behalf of the Church on human trafficking.

Bishop Springett said on Tuesday that he was looking forward to bringing his 30 years’ experience in parish ministry “to the task of developing a robust and healthy safeguarding culture in the Church”.

He was ordained priest in 1990, served his title in Chelmsford diocese, where he remained in parish ministry until 2010, as incumbent, area dean, and an Hon. Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. He was then appointed Archdeacon of Cheltenham, in Gloucester diocese, before his consecration in 2016.

In his new post, Bishop Springett will work closely with both the lead bishop for safeguarding, the Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, and the other deputy lead, the Rt Revd Julie Conalty, who is the Bishop of Birkenhead, in Chester diocese, and focuses on survivor engagement.