Downing Street has today announced that the Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Principal of St Mellitus College, one of the largest theological colleges in the Anglican Church worldwide, is to become the new Bishop of Kensington in the Diocese of London.

St Mellitus is itself headquartered in the Kensington Area and Graham will continue to be involved in a new ‘presidential’ role at the College. St Mellitus was founded in 2007 by the Bishops of London and Chelmsford and in 2012 moved into its new home at St Jude’s Church, Earl’s Court. In total, St Mellitus currently has 173 ordinands in training, and over 600 people taking its courses.

As Bishop of Kensington, Graham will oversee an area of the Diocese of London which includes the West London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, the Borough of Richmond North of the Thames, and the Surrey Borough of Spelthorne.

Dr Graham Tomlin commented:

“It is a privilege to be called to serve as a bishop in a growing and dynamic diocese, and an area which already has good momentum. My prayer is that God will enable us together to build on that growth, while deepening and strengthening our confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO, said:

“In his many publications and in his teaching in St Mellitus College, Graham has demonstrated a generous orthodoxy which combines depth with clarity. He has continually combined teaching with pastoral care for those preparing for parochial and other ministries. His whole ministry in a sense has been in support of the ‘local church’ for which he has a passion. As Area Bishop he will be able to develop this theme in his ministry as he serves the remarkably diverse Christian communities in West London.”

Graham trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, was a curate in Exeter, later returning to Wycliffe as a tutor in Historical Theology and eventually becoming Vice Principal. In 2005, he helped found St Paul’s Theological Centre, which is now part of St Mellitus College. Graham is the author of many articles and several books, most recently, ‘The Widening Circle – Priesthood as God’s way of Blessing the World’, published in 2014.  He is married to Janet and has two grown-up children.

Graham succeeds the Rt Revd Paul Williams, now Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, as Bishop of Kensington. He will take up his duties in the Autumn.