Ruth Worsley
| The Right Reverend Ruth Worsley | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Taunton | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Bath and Wells |
| In office | 2015–present |
| Other posts |
Archdeacon of Wiltshire (2013–2015) Honorary Chaplain to the Queen |
| Orders | |
| Ordination |
1996 (deacon) 1997 (priest) |
| Consecration |
29 September 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Ruth Elizabeth Worsley |
| Born |
1962 (age 53–54) Hampton, Middlesex, United Kingdom |
| Spouse | Howard |
| Children | Three sons |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
Ruth Elizabeth Worsley QHC (born 1962) is a Church of England bishop. Since September 2015, she has been the Bishop of Taunton, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Bath and Wells. From 2013 to 2015, she was Archdeacon of Wiltshire.
Early life
Worsley was born in 1962 in Hampton, Middlesex.[1][2] She studied English literature, theology and biblical studies at the University of Manchester. She was training to be a nurse when she felt the call to ministry and left to take up a position as a lay minister.[2] She trained for ordained ministry at St John's College, Nottingham, an Anglican theological college.[3]
Ordained ministry
Worsley was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon on 29 September 1996 and as a priest in 1997.[1][2] Following curacies in Nottingham she was Dean of Women's Ministry in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham [4] from 2007 to 2010. In 2009 she was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen;[5] and in 2010 to the post of Parish Development Officer for the Woolwich Area of the Diocese of Southwark.[6] In February 2013, she was appointed Archdeacon of Wilts.[7] She stood down as archdeacon upon becoming a bishop.
Episcopal ministry
On 30 June 2015, she was announced as the next Bishop of Taunton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[3][8] On 29 September 2015, she was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at St Paul's Cathedral, London.[9][10] She was installed as Bishop of Taunton at Wells Cathedral on 2 October.[11] Her first act as a bishop was to admit and licence nine people as readers.[12]
Personal life
Worsley is married to Howard. Together, they have three children; Nathanael, Jonathan and Benjamin.[2]
References
- 1 2 "R E Worsley". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 November 2015. (subscription required)
- 1 2 3 4 "Bishop Ruth Worsley". Diocese of Bath and Wells. Church of England. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- 1 2 "Suffragan Bishop of Taunton: Ruth Worsley". Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. GOV.UK. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ↑ Southwell Anglican
- ↑ This is Wiltshire
- ↑ The Times
- ↑ Salisbury Anglican
- ↑ Diocese of Bath & Wells — Ruth Worsley announced as next Bishop of Taunton (Accessed 2 July 2015)
- ↑ "New women bishops ordained at St Paul's Cathedral". St Paul's Cathedral. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ Diocese of Bath & Wells — Bishops & Archdeacons (Accessed 4 September 2015)
- ↑ "First female Bishop of Taunton to be officially installed in Wells Cathedral this weekend". Western Gazette. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ↑ "Ruth Worsley installed as new Bishop of Taunton". BBC News. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
| Church of England titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Wraw |
Archdeacon of Wiltshire 2013 to 2015 |
Succeeded by Sue Groom |
| Preceded by Peter Maurice |
Bishop of Taunton 2015 to present |
Incumbent |
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