Ruth Worsley
Ruth Worsley | |
|---|---|
| Interim Bishop of Liverpool and Bishop of Wigan | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Liverpool |
| In office | 2025–present |
| Other post(s) | Honorary Chaplain to the Queen |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Taunton (2015–2025) Archdeacon of Wiltshire (2013–2015) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1996 (deacon) 1997 (priest) |
| Consecration | 29 September 2015 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) |
| Spouse | Howard |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester St John's College, Nottingham |
Ruth Elizabeth Worsley, KHC (born 1962) is a Church of England bishop. Since 2025, she has been Interim Bishop of Liverpool and Bishop of Wigan; she previously served as the Bishop of Taunton, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Bath and Wells; and as Archdeacon of Wiltshire.
Early life
[edit]Worsley was born in 1962 in Hampton, Middlesex.[1][2] She studied English literature, theology and biblical studies at the University of Manchester. While training to be a nurse, 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
[edit]Worsley was ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Michaelmas 1996 (29 September) by Patrick Harris, Bishop of Southwell at St Mary's Church, Nottingham[4] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (5 October 1997), by Alan Morgan, Bishop of Sherwood at St Peter's Church, Ravenshead.[5] She served curacies at St Leodegarius Church, Basford (1996 to 1998) and St Stephen's Church, Hyson Green (1998 to 2001) in Nottingham.[1] From 2001 to 2008, she was priest-in-charge of the benefice of Hyson Green (St Stephen's Church) and Forest Fields.[1][6] She was also Area Dean of Nottingham North between 2006 and 2008.[1]
From 2007 to 2010, Worsley was Dean of Women's Ministry in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham and an honorary canon of Southwell Minster.[7] In 2009 she was appointed an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen;[8] and in 2010 to the post of Parish Development Officer for the Woolwich Area of the Diocese of Southwark.[9] In February 2013, she was appointed Archdeacon of Wilts.[10] She stood down as archdeacon upon becoming a bishop.
Episcopal ministry
[edit]On 30 June 2015, she was announced as the next Bishop of Taunton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.[3][11] On 29 September 2015, she was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at St Paul's Cathedral, London.[12][13] She was installed as Bishop of Taunton at Wells Cathedral on 2 October.[14] Her first act as a bishop was to admit and licence nine people as readers.[15]
On 13 September 2023, it was announced that Worsley would be seconded as Acting Bishop of Coventry.[16] On 5 November 2024, it was announced her time would be extended to 31 December 2024.[17]
On 28 February 2025, it was announced that Worsley was to become Interim Bishop of Liverpool (i.e. interim diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Liverpool) for a period of two years starting later in 2025; to facilitate this role, she would be translated from Taunton to the vacant suffragan See of Wigan (becoming Bishop of Wigan).[18] She was formally appointed to the See of Wigan by letters patent issued on 4 April 2025,[19] and was welcomed as Interim Bishop on 3 May 2025.[20][21]
Views
[edit]In November 2023, she was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".[22]
Personal life
[edit]Worsley is married to Howard, who is also ordained in the Church of England.[6][23] Together, they have three children.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Ruth Elizabeth Worsley". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ a b c "Bishop Ruth Worsley". Diocese of Bath and Wells. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b "Suffragan Bishop of Taunton: Ruth Worsley". Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. Government of the United Kingdom. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ "Michaelmas Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6973. 4 October 1996. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 7026. 10 October 1997. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ a b "TAUNTON, Bishop Suffragan of,". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ Southwell Anglican
- ^ "Chaplain to the Queen is new archdeacon". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ The Times
- ^ Ford, Michael (23 October 2012). "New Archdeacon of Wilts Appointed". Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "Ruth Worsley installed as new Bishop of Taunton". BBC News. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ "Bishop Ruth seconded to the role of Acting Bishop of Coventry". www.bathandwells.org.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "An Update on Bishop Ruth and Future Plans". Diocese of Coventry. 5 November 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
- ^ "New Interim Bishop of Liverpool Announced". Diocese of Liverpool. 28 February 2025. Archived from the original on 28 February 2025. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ "No. 64704". The London Gazette. 8 April 2025. p. 7574.
- ^ "Reflection on Bishop Ruth's Official Welcome". Diocese of Liverpool. 7 May 2025. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ "Report on the retirement from Ministry of +John". Diocese of Liverpool. 3 April 2025. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops". Church Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Howard John Worsley". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
