The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley will become the new Bishop of Coventry, Downing Street confirmed, following the King’s approval of her nomination.
Bishop Sophie is now the Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster within the Diocese of Sheffield. She follows the Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, who left the diocese in November 2023 to become Dean of Windsor, and will be responsible for 201 parishes in Warwickshire and Coventry.
Bishop Sophie will be the twelfth Bishop of Coventry since the current Diocese of Coventry was founded in 1918.
She will become the first woman to serve as Bishop of Coventry. “I am really delighted to be called to serve as the next Bishop of Coventry,” Bishop Sophie remarked.
“I am confident that there will be several opportunities to share the narrative of God’s love with the people of Coventry and Warwickshire, given their diverse population and important cultural and industrial past. “Over the last two months, I’ve learnt a lot about inspiring ministries in both urban and rural settings, conventional and innovative, among people of various ages and backgrounds.
“Over the last two months, I’ve learnt a lot about inspiring ministries in both urban and rural settings, conventional and innovative, among people of various ages and backgrounds.
“I so look forward to getting to know the people of the diocese across church, school, chaplaincy, and wider communities.” Bishop Sophie was raised in Brighton before travelling north to study Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds.
Sophie trained at Wycliffe Hall Theological College, where she earned an MPhil in theology (Christian Doctrine) from Oxford University, before being ordained in Bradford Cathedral in 1997.
Sophie began working as a Mission Partner for the Church Mission Society in Uganda in 2000, before returning to the UK in 2003 to become Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist in Churt, Diocese of Guildford.
In 2010, she was appointed Vicar of St Andrew’s Burgess Hill in the Diocese of Chichester, and in 2015 she was named Canon Missioner and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship, and Ministry in the Diocese of Durham.
She went on to say, “The tale of Coventry Cathedral, which offers a message of forgiveness rather than revenge, has so much to teach our fragmented society right now.
“This gives me great optimism for the future as we collaborate to expand on this unique message of reconciliation and make Jesus more widely known.
I will, of course, find it difficult to leave Sheffield, where I learnt what it is to be a bishop for the church in today’s world.
“I believe that this has prepared me to be the Bishop that Coventry Diocese requires in the coming years, as we work together in faith, hope, and love to build safer, kinder communities.” “Please pray for me in these next weeks and months, as I will be praying for you all.”
It was announced in December 2019 that she would be the new Bishop of Doncaster, and she was consecrated as bishop on September 21, 2020, at York Minster, following a delay due to the Covid 19 lockdowns. Sophie, Bishop of Doncaster, serves is the Sponsoring Bishop for all vocations and chairs the Board of Education.
She also serves as the national episcopal lead for Lay Ministries in the Church of England. Sophie is married to Chris, and they have three adult children. Sophie plays the violin and viola, sings soprano, and has been an avid runner for many years.
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