Bishop Vivienne Faull is delighted to announce that Revd Canon Prof Martin Gainsborough has been appointed as Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol from 1 January 2019.
He will succeed Revd Paul van Rossum, who is retiring at the end of the year.
As Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol, Martin will be providing support for Bishop Viv as she ministers across the Diocese: sharing the gospel; engaging with churches and their communities particularly focused on children and young people, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups; and deepening discipleship through encouraging people to draw closer to God.
Martin is currently Professor of Development Politics at Bristol University as well as being Canon Theologian of Bristol Cathedral and the Diocesan Social Justice and Environmental Adviser. For six years, prior to becoming Canon Theologian in 2016, Martin was Curate and then Priest in Charge of St Luke's, Barton Hill, which is in an area of deprivation in Bristol.
Bishop Viv said: "I am delighted that Martin has agreed to become my Chaplain as I work to connect with every community across this great, multicultural, diverse Diocese.
Martin shares my own heart for mission and he will offer invaluable support as we build prayerful and mutually respectful relationships within the Diocese that engage with everyone, showing them the love of God, whoever they are.
I am looking forward to working with Martin as a member of my Bishops Staff Team.
Martin said: "It is a privilege to be supporting Bishop Viv in this way at such an exciting time for the Diocese. My work with her will reflect my own passions to proclaim the Gospel boldly, confront injustice and work for peace.
In serving Bishop Viv and the Diocese, I want to keep these passions uppermost."