On Thursday 30 November, the next Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Neil Warwick was consecrated as Bishop at Canterbury Cathedral during a service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Neil has most recently served as Archdeacon of Bristol, responsible for three populous deaneries across the vibrant and diverse city of Bristol and working closely on the discernment, shaping and implementation of the Diocese of Bristol’s mission plan - Transforming Church. Together.
He has also been part of the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce that produced the suite of changes titled ‘From Lament to Action’, that are designed to bring about a change of culture in the life of the Church of England.
Bishop Neil said:
“As Bishop of Swindon, I am eager to join hands with all the remarkable individuals and groups who are working hard towards the betterment of the Swindon and North Wiltshire communities. I am excited to contribute my efforts towards building a more inclusive and equitable society where every individual feels valued and heard.
“My deepest commitment lies in serving the needs of marginalised communities, and I am honoured to have this opportunity to work towards creating a better future for everyone. Jesus brought and continues to bring hope and joy to all. I pray that in my time as Bishop, I can do the same, seeing and encouraging the good in all the people I meet.”
As part of the same service, the Archbishop of Canterbury also consecrated the Rt Revd Dr Michael Volland as the next Bishop of Birmingham.
The Rt Rev Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol said:
“It is wonderful to have Neil as the new Bishop of Swindon. I believe that his exceptional ability to drive change will greatly benefit the entire Diocese of Bristol. He is truly dedicated to bringing others to Christ, and his deep commitment, broad sympathies, and love for the abundant life that God provides are sure to inspire many. I look forward to working with Neil in his new capacity, serving the communities of Swindon and North Wiltshire and beyond.”
The Bishop of Swindon will be commissioned in a Welcome Service at Christ Church, Swindon on Sunday 3 December at 6.30pm. He will be installed as Suffragan Bishop in Bristol Cathedral during Evensong on Sunday 10 December at 3.30pm.
Everybody is welcome to attend both services. The Welcome Service in Swindon will be live-streamed on YouTube. For the Cathedral service, please RSVP using this link.