THE next Bishop of Worcester is to be the Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Downing Street announced on Tuesday. He succeeds Dr John Inge, who retired last year (News, 3 May 2024).

Bishop Nelson has been Bishop of St Germans, in Truro diocese, since 2020 and was Acting Bishop of Truro during the vacancy-in-see after the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen’s translation to Winchester (News, 6 July 2023). Bishop Nelson also serves as Diocesan Warden of Reader. He will remain Bishop to the Armed Forces when he is translated to Worcester.

Speaking to the Church Times on Tuesday, Bishop Nelson described the calling as “an enormous privilege”. He said that he was most looking forward to “getting to know the people and places of Worcestershire and Dudley” and “finding out what God is up to amongst them and calling them on to next”.

He continued: “My priority will be getting out and about, getting to as many churches, as many of the local communities as I can, and hearing what’s going on. I hope, in doing that, to communicate to people as I listen, that the Church is called to be communities of hope. I’m sure I’m going to find lots of places that are already serving their neighbours practically, and pointing people towards God and changing lives in big and small ways.”

Bishop Nelson trained for the priesthood at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and was ordained priest in 2010. He served curacies in Canterbury diocese, before becoming Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Goudhurst, with Kilndown, there in 2012.

Before ordination, he “had become really committed to the practice of living in and building communities”, but he “didn’t quite know what to do about it”. In an Oxfam store, he was drawn to a book that had the word “community” in the title: “I have no doubt that that book being there was a direct intervention of God, and it changed my life.”

The book was about the L’Arche Christian communities, who support people with learning disabilities. His reading it lead to him finding out more about the charity, and then spending 13 years leading the community in West Norwood, south London: “God stepped into my life, pointed me towards L’Arche, and, by living amongst people who are both similar to me and very different to me, I think I learned most of what I know about people in the world and about.”

Reflecting on the disclosures of abuse by the founder, Jean Vanier (News, 3 February 2023), in the original community in Trosly, France, Bishop Nelson said that he felt “physically sick” when he found out.

“There’s much for other organisations, including the Church, to learn from the way L’Arche dealt with that: they were unequivocal in saying Jean Vanier abused people full stop, no caveats, just the straightforward truth.

“It redoubles my commitment to putting survivors, victims of abuse, people who are vulnerable at the absolute heart of my own ministry and practice, and at the heart of the Church that I’m responsible for leading.”

In a statement posted on social media, the House of Survivors said of Bishop Nelson’s new position: “He gets it! The Church needs more like this if they are to change the protectionist and unaccountable culture.”

Bishop Nelson spoke of the “risks” posed by the world’s current situation, including the reality of war (News, 27 June). “We are not meant to prepare for war as if it’s some kind of inevitable conclusion to what’s going on. Our first task is to pray for peace and to work for peace.”

With regard to the the Church’s Living in Love and Faith process, Bishop Nelson says that he is dedicated to “fully implementing the commitments made by General Synod”. He is “absolutely committed to holding the unity of the Church in all of its diversity and all of its difference, including around human sexuality and the presence of love and faith”. He added: “That’s what I will do as the Bishop of Worcester.”

Bishop Nelson is married to Lizzie, UK Director of the peacebuilding charity Search for Common Ground. They have four children.

Outside ministry, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and playing cricket. He is “delighted” that he will be living opposite New Road cricket ground, the home of Worcestershire CCC.

Bishop Nelson will be enthroned early next year.

This story was updated later on 29 July to include an interview with Bishop Nelson