THE next Suffragan Bishop of Crediton, in the diocese of Exeter, is to be the Archdeacon of Reigate, the Ven. Moira Astin, Downing Street announced on Tuesday.
Before taking up her current post in the diocese of Southwark, Archdeacon Astin was Priest-in-Charge of St Lawrence’s, Frodingham, in the Lincoln diocese, from 2011 until 2016.
She is a tutor in church history at St Augustine’s College of Theology, and, last year, Canterbury Press published her book on the ascension: The Missing Ending: Rediscovering the joy of the ascension (Books, 9 May).
Archdeacon Astin moved to Lincoln diocese from the diocese of Oxford, where she served her title at St Nicholas, Newbury, and held posts at Thatcham, Southlake, and in the Woodley Team Ministry. She was the county ecumenical officer for Berkshire and then diocesan ecumenical officer, from 2010 until 2011.
She trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and was ordained priest in 1996. She had previously worked in computing, having studied natural sciences at the University of Cambridge.
On Tuesday, she said that she was looking forward to getting to know Devon. “Our churches, whether in a village, new town, seaside resort, or city centre, are still the heart of their communities, and I look forward to praying with and encouraging them as they tell in word and action of God’s transforming love.”
The Bishop of Exeter, Dr Mike Harrison, said that he was delighted to be welcoming Archdeacon Astin to the diocese. “Her passion for supporting parochial ministry, her pastoral gifts, and her evident Christian spirituality will enrich the diocese of Exeter and I am greatly looking forward to working with her.”
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, paid tribute to the departing Archdeacon, who, he said, had been “highly effective”.
“Moira’s interests in ecclesiastical law and history, especially the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Church, allow her to take the long view in developing parishes and chaplaincies. I give thanks that her many gifts and zeal for mission will soon be bearing fruit in the diocese of Exeter.”
She is due to be consecrated at St Paul’s Cathedral on 3 July.