Significant progress has been made in the process to identify the next Bishop of Oxford.
We have created and published our Statement of Needs, to inform our choice of the next Bishop of Oxford, and elected diocesan representatives to serve on the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC).
The Statement of Needs
The Revd Canon Geoff Bayliss, Chair of the Vacancy in See Committee, expressed his gratitude for the scale and spirit of participation:
"Our Statement of Needs is the result of a huge amount of work by very many people and gives a wonderful picture of the life of our diocese. It was informed by the consultation to which over 2,700 people very generously contributed and was unanimously agreed by the Committee.”
Consultation Summary Report
We also today publish our Consultation Summary Report, which draws on one of the widest consultations ever undertaken across the Diocese of Oxford.
Through four weeks of consultation and detailed analysis, over 2,700 people responded to share their hopes for the diocese and our next Bishop of Oxford. Particular effort was made to hear from groups that are often underrepresented. From this breadth of responses, ten key themes emerged as most frequently raised across all questions: some, issues for the next bishop to address, others, qualities they should offer. The Consultation Summary Report expands upon these crucial findings.
Crown Nominations Commission representatives
Following its completion, the Vacancy in See Committee elected six of its members to represent the diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission. These representatives were commissioned during a Eucharist and will join six members from the national Church and the Archbishops in forming the full CNC. The Commission is responsible for drawing up a shortlist of candidates, interviewing candidates and recommending a nominee to the King and to Downing Street. You can read more about the diocesan members below.
Geoff invited the diocese to hold the Commission in prayer in the months ahead:
“Please pray for them, and for all members of the CNC, as they carry out their work later this year on our behalf in discerning who God is calling to be the next Bishop of Oxford. We hope that this will result in an announcement in February 2027.”
"A strong commitment to the task"
He also paid tribute to the Vacancy in See Committee for its dedication throughout the process: “Finally, I pay tribute to all those who have formed part of the Committee, and all those who have supported its work, for their strong commitment to the task and for the tone and graciousness with which it has been possible to work together.”
The meeting was attended by David Wicksteed and Jonathan Hellewell, Appointments Secretaries from the Church of England and Prime Minister’s office respectively, who reflected on their time meeting people across the diocese through the Vacancy process, highlighting encouraging engagement with young people during school visits. David said:
“It’s been a real pleasure and a privilege to learn about the Oxford Diocese. I think the first thing people mentioned was the size, complexity and diversity of the diocese – and we have not been disappointed.”
The opportunities and challenges ahead
The Statement of Needs is a document outlining the role, context, opportunities, and desired qualities for the next bishop. It has been informed by one of the widest consultations we have ever carried out. More than 2,500 people from across the Diocese of Oxford, including both lay and ordained respondents, individuals young and old, and people from a wide range of backgrounds, contributed their views. We have specifically sought out contributions of people from groups that are often underrepresented. The wide perspective helps make sure that a new Bishop is chosen that reflects the collective needs of the church across the diocese.
The Statement of Needs sets out the particular character of the Diocese of Oxford, the opportunities and challenges ahead, and the qualities and experience sought in the next Bishop. This document will guide the CNC as it begins the process of searching for candidates.
Find out more about the Vacancy in See process so far.
Details of the six diocesan members elected to the Crown Nominations Commission
The following six people will serve as representatives of the diocese on the Crown Nominations Commission prayerfully and diligently, seeking God’s guidance in discerning the right Bishop for Oxford.
Pray with us for the Crown Nomination Commission:
“Thank you for the gifts you’ve given the people nominated to the Crown Nomination Commission,
equip them for this task and help them to work well together and with the others on commission.
Give them the humility, wisdom and grace for all they’re called to do.
Help us to pray for them often.”
The Revd Matt Beer
Matt is one of the younger members of the Vacancy in See Committee. He has significant experience of interviewing candidates for church, diocesan and education roles.
Matt has served in the Diocese of Oxford for 15 years, first as a youth worker before being selected for training. He served his curacy in Milton Keynes, ministering in one of the most multicultural areas of the diocese. He started a new worshipping community in an area of significant deprivation in the West Midlands before coming back to the diocese as Vicar at St Mary’s Cogges in Witney. He is also an Associate Area Dean for the Witney Deanery. He has served on school governing bodies, trustee boards, a Bishop’s Council, and previously on General Synod.
In his ministry he is committed to fostering reconciliation and hope among those who may not agree, holding together conviction and generosity.
Prof Helen King
Helen is a lay member of the diocese. She has been responsible for many appointment processes throughout her professional career.
Having been part of this diocese for 20 years, she has taken on a variety of roles in her local church. Helen is an authorised lay preacher, intercessor and communion assistant. She has led nurture courses, volunteered as a street pastor, and takes communion to care homes. In 2021, Helen was elected to General Synod, where she has focused on safeguarding and sexuality. She also volunteers in a number of other Church and non-Church related bodies.
In her ministry, Helen works for inclusion of all members in Christ’s body.
Helen Lamb
Helen is a lay member of the diocese. She has substantial experience of interviewing and appointing candidates to a wide range of roles throughout her HR career.
In a Church context, Helen has served as a patron appointing incumbents in the diocese and as a parish representative in the Diocese of Ely. She has more recently participated in the diocesan consultation subcommittee.
Helen has a deep appreciation for the diversity of views, priorities, and concerns across the diocese.
The Revd Joy Mawdesley
Joy has 20 years of experience in the recruitment of employees and volunteers in Church and secular settings.
Having lived, worked and worshipped in the diocese for the past 32 years, she has experienced worshipping in four different market town and village churches in both Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Ten years ago, Joy was ordained and is Associate Rector at St Nicolas, Newbury, and St Mary the Virgin in Speen.
Joy has significant experience of safeguarding practice, understanding of and working with diversity, and an awareness of the extremes of wealth and poverty in our diocese.
The Venerable Stephen Pullin
Stephen is Archdeacon of Berkshire. He has extensive experience of interviewing clergy for parochial appointments, prayerfully discerning who God is calling, as well as interviewing candidates for the Church of England’s Strategic Leadership Development Programme.
Stephen has been Archdeacon of Berkshire for six years and has been in the diocese since 2014. He trained as an ordinand at Trinity College, Bristol, completing his curacy in the Diocese of Bristol. He moved to Reading in 2014 to become the Priest in Charge at Reading Minster. He was also Area Dean of Reading until 2017, when he became an Assistant Archdeacon of Berkshire.
Stephen brings in-depth knowledge of how the diocese functions and the strengths and weaknesses of its many parts, as well as some of the less-visible challenges that the next Bishop of Oxford will need to address.
Sir Hector Sants
Hector is the current Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance. He has extensive experience of interviewing and evaluating candidates for organisations that operate through consensus-based decision making.
Having been a resident in the diocese for almost 35 years, Hector became Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance in 2022. He has a wealth of experience in non-executive roles in the public and charitable sector after retiring from full-time work in 2013. This includes chairing the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings. He is currently the PCC Secretary of a small rural parish.
Hector understands both the operational and cultural challenges of keeping the Diocese resourced, safe, and well governed, and the complexities of small and particularly rural parish ministry. He has a natural drive to seek continuous improvement.