The Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen will be leaving his post as the Bishop of Truro this autumn to become the new Bishop of Winchester.
Bishop Philip says: “I had expected that being Bishop of Truro would be my last post before retirement, but it seems that God has other plans. After a lengthy and careful process, the people responsible, both locally and nationally, for the appointment in Winchester have concluded that there is a ‘Philip-shaped’ job to be done in their diocese and, after much prayer, I have accepted their invitation to be their next Bishop.
“Of course, there is never a perfect time to leave anywhere. We are still in a significant process of change in this diocese. But that change is happening on increasingly firm foundations.
“Over the last few years, we have weathered the storm of the pandemic – and the service so many of our churches gave to their communities was outstanding. We have an inspiring diocesan vision in ‘The Saints’ Way’. We have shared in developing a local vision for fruitful and sustainable parishes through the hard but important work of ‘On the Way’. We have grown deeper together in prayer in the process. We have a diocesan plan for change and renewal in place to support the Deanery Plans; to engage better with children and young people and those on the margins; to better equip our clergy for ministry in a changing world – and with plans too to keep the MMF call at a manageable level and to maintain stipendiary clergy numbers. Furthermore, the announcement of a new Dean of Truro will shortly be made, to lead our cathedral into a fruitful future."
See Bishop Philip's speech in full: trurodiocese.org.uk/2023/07/bishop-philip-to-leave-diocese/
and see 'Bishop Hugh looks to the future': trurodiocese.org.uk/2023/07/bishop-hugh-looks-to-the-future/
