UPFRONT: LATEST NEWS Joanne Grenfell with Bishop Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, in St John’s Church, Hackney, during its major refurbishment Archdeacon Joanne is new Bishop of Stepney THE Ven Dr Joanne Grenfell, training course for clergy and lay focussing on enabling the church Archdeacon of Portsdown, will ministers, based at St Luke’s Church, to grow in depth, impact and be the next Bishop of Stepney, Southsea. numbers. Downing Street has announced. The Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, “Though we shall miss her, Joanne will be consecrated bishop Bishop of London, said: “This is a especially in Havant and on July 3 and take up her new hugely exciting appointment for Portsmouth deaneries, we know she role as area bishop within the London. Joanne is a person of will bring gifts of clarity, insight and Diocese of London from September, prayer and theological reflection. leadership as Bishop of Stepney to covering parishes in the boroughs She is a person committed the communities of that area and of Hackney, Islington and Tower to spiritual growth, with an to the Diocese of London, as she has Hamlets. understanding and love of the across a wide range of ministry and diversity we see across London. I am outreach here.’ Joanne’s life in the Church of sure she will provide inspirational England has taken her from outer Christian leadership across the The Ven Dr Joanne Grenfell was housing estates and inner city Stepney area, and across the educated at Oriel College, Oxford, parishes, chaplaincy, diocesan capital as a whole.” where she was also lecturer in ministry, and cathedral outreach, English. She trained for ministry at through to her current strategic Joanne said: “It is a joy and a Westcott House, Cambridge. She role as Archdeacon of Portsdown. privilege to be asked to become was a curate in Kirkby Team Ministry She has been responsible, with the the next Bishop of Stepney and to in the Diocese of Liverpool, and was bishop, for parishes in the city of live in this gloriously diverse and ordained priest in 2001. Portsmouth and the borough of creative part of the capital. I am Havant. looking forward to listening to local In 2003, Joanne was appointed people to learn what is already priest-in-charge of Manor Parish As well as her role for the Stepney happening here, and to discerning in the Diocese of Sheffield with area, she will be the lead bishop for how I can best support churches to responsibility for the urban theology social responsibility and, along with be confident, growing communities placement programme run by the Bishop of London, take a lead as they live out the good news of Ripon College Cuddesdon. for safeguarding. the gospel.” In 2006, Joanne became Diocesan Joanne will move to London with And Bishop Christopher said: Director of Ordinands and her husband James and their three “Archdeacon Joanne has been an Residentiary Canon, and in 2008 children. James Grenfell will retain outstanding leader in mission in she took on the additional role of his role as director of Portsmouth the Diocese of Portsmouth, working Dean of Women’s Ministry. Joanne Pathway, our diocese’s theological closely with me and colleagues in came to our diocese in 2013. 4 live | pray | serve.