Next Anglican Bishop of Lancaster is Rev Dr Jill Duff

A priest who is passionate about planting new congregations and creating confident witnesses for Jesus Christ who can become ‘beacons’ in their communities has been chosen to be the next Anglican Suffragan Bishop of Lancaster.

Bolton-born Rev Dr Jill Duff, 45, is currently the founding Director of the St Mellitus College, North West, which is the first full-time ordination course in the North West for over 40 years, offering context-based ordination training and theology courses.

She went to Bolton School before studying at Christ College, Cambridge and Worcester College, Oxford. Several years in the oil industry followed before Jill trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Rt Rev Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn, made the appointment following consultation with a representative group from the Diocese.

The Archbishop of York has welcomed the announcement which was approved by Her Majesty The Queen and posted to the Downing Street websiteat 10am. Jill succeeds Rt Rev Geoff Pearson, who retired last July. The date of her consecration at York Minster is June 29, 2018.