A highly experienced Bishop is thrilled to be chosen to lead the Church of England in Suffolk, as Downing Street announces her appointment today.
The Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell, 53, has been Bishop of Stepney, an area bishop in the Diocese of London, since 2019.
She is also the lead bishop for safeguarding in the Church of England nationally and has now been appointed the new diocesan bishop for Suffolk.
Bishop Joanne succeeds the Rt Revd Martin Seeley who retired after 10 years in the county earlier this year and who was awarded the Suffolk Medal for his commitment to the county, leading with wisdom and humility.
Married with three children, Bishop Joanne will be the first woman to lead the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese.
A statement from Downing Street said: “The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell, Area Bishop of Stepney, in the Diocese of London, for election as Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, in succession to The Right Reverend Martin Alan Seeley, following his retirement.”
A huge welcome from Suffolk
Bishop Graeme Knowles, who is currently acting Bishop and a former diocesan bishop and Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, said: ‘‘We are delighted with the appointment of Joanne who will bring with her a rich mixture of experience in the Church. This includes her invaluable insight into safeguarding where since 2023 she has been lead bishop for safeguarding and chair of the National Safeguarding Steering Group. Joanne will take up her position in Suffolk later this year and in the meantime we will be making preparations in the diocese to ensure a smooth handover and a very warm Suffolk welcome."
The Diocesan Secretary, Gary Peverley, said: "Suffolk is an amazing place and our county welcomes Bishop Joanne with open arms. Churches and organisations are working together to serve the community and express their faith and the part the Bishop plays within that is key. Bishop Joanne is joining a diocese with a strategy and a plan for growth.”
A tour of the diocese
Bishop Joanne is spending today (Friday 27 June ) in Suffolk beginning to meet people within the diocese, including St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Debenham Church of England High School, meeting church members at St Michael’s Church in Framlingham, and at a community outreach project in St Peter’s Church, Stoke Park, Ipswich on the day of the announcement of her new role.
Bishop Joanne is looking forward to meeting so many more people when she starts in post towards the end of the year and is keen to see more young people leading within the Church and their communities, working alongside those with many years of experience.
She said: "I am honoured to be called to this role. This is a beautiful diocese, with truly lovely people, and a grounded Suffolk sense of service and humility. I had the privilege of preaching at the Aldeburgh Festival a couple of weeks ago and I know I have so much to learn and understand about Suffolk.
“What I’m already discovering is how warm and welcoming people are. I’m excited about getting to know Suffolk and its people better."
She added: “I enjoy building diverse teams full of people who have much better ideas than I would ever have on my own. I hope to develop a culture where we can challenge and support each other to do the best we can to live out the good news of Jesus Christ in this place. I’ve had to do some creative strategic work in areas where I’ve served previously, including developing a vision, putting together funding applications, and overseeing the implementation of mission projects to help the church reach new people, young people, and people from lower income communities. God has shown us how the Church can grow, across different traditions and contexts. I’m keen to join in with what you are already doing here with Growing in God, Lightwave, and Inspiring Ipswich, and to work out together what God is calling us to next."
About Bishop Joanne
Bishop Joanne, who like Bishop Martin will become a member of the House of Lords where she will be able to champion issues close to Suffolk’s heart, said: ‘‘I care deeply about our churches being as healthy and safe as possible, in policies, practice, recruitment, training, and, most importantly in culture.
“We can all contribute to a culture where victims and survivors are seen, heard, cared for, and learned from,’’ she says, adding, ‘‘I am looking forward to working with safeguarding professionals and volunteers across the diocese."
Prior to her role as Bishop of Stepney she served as Archdeacon in the Diocese of Portsmouth, Residentiary Canon and Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Sheffield, and as an inner-city parish priest in Sheffield and Liverpool. She trained for ordination at Westcott House in Cambridge.
Bishop Joanne, who studied at Oriel College, Oxford and the University of British Columbia, Canada and was a lecturer in English at Oxford until 1998, is married to the Revd Dr James Grenfell, 55, Chaplain to the University of East London; he will remain in his current role.
It is anticipated that Bishop Joanne will start in her new position during the autumn.
Picture credit: Keith Mindham