Spokesperson bishops or lead bishops are bishops in the Church of England who, additionally to their see, have an episcopal role relating to a particular sector, situation or group of people.
Bishops to His Majesty's Prisons The Bishop to His Majesty's Prisons is an episcopal post relating to the church's chaplaincy to His Majesty's Prison Service.
The post has been held, alongside a diocesan or suffragan see, by at least five bishops: 1975–1985: John Cavell, Bishop of Southampton 1985: Br Michael (Fisher), Bishop of St Germans 1985–2001: Robert Hardy, Bishop of Maidstone until 1987, thereafter of Lincoln 2001–2007: Peter Selby, Bishop of Worcester 2007–2013: James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool 2013–2020: James Langstaff, Bishop of RochesterArchbishop of Canterbury – Bishop of Rochester to be next Bishop to Prisons (Accessed 18 November 2013) 2020–present: Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester
Bishops for Urban Life and Faith The Bishop for Urban Life and Faith is an episcopal post relating to the church's outreach into urban communities.
The post has been held, alongside a diocesan or suffragan see, by two bishops since its 2006 creation: 2006–2009: Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hulme 2009–present: Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Woolwich then of Southwark
Bishops for Higher and Further Education 2013–2021: Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester 2021–present: Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry
Lead bishops on healthcare issues On 20 October 2010, it was announced that James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle had been appointed lead bishop on healthcare issues.Church of England – Bishop of Carlisle appointed as Lead Bishop on Healthcare Issues (Accessed 7 March 2014)
Lead bishops for religious communities David Walker, Bishop of Dudley then of Manchester has been Chair of the Advisory Council on the Relations of Bishops and Religious Communities since before November 2012;Towards Acknowledgement (Accessed 16 June 2015) as such he is described as lead bishop for religious communities.
Lead bishops for safeguarding
2010 – 2016: Paul Butler 2016 – February 2020: Peter Hancock March 2020 – March 2023: Jonathan Gibbs April 2023 – March 2026: Joanne Grenfell April 2026 – present: Robert Springett
Deputy lead bishops for safeguarding April 2022 – present: Julie Conalty January 2024 – March 2026: Robert Springett
Lead bishops for Living in Love and Faith The following have been lead bishops for the Living in Love and Faith process:
2020 – 2023: Sarah Mullally 2023 : Philip Mounstephen November 2023 – February 2024: Helen-Ann Hartley November 2023 – June 2025: Martyn Snow June 2025 onwards: unfilled
Lead bishops for racial justice March 2025 – present: Arun Arora March 2025 – present: Rosemarie Mallett
Chairs of the CMDDP On 19 April 2013, it was announced that Nick Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury had been appointed Chair of the Committee for Ministry of and among Deaf and Disabled People (CMDDP). By 2020, Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford, had taken over as Chair.
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