The Diocese of St Albans is delighted to welcome the appointment of The Right Reverend Dr Andrew Paul Rumsey as the next Bishop of St Albans. The nomination, approved by His Majesty the King, was announced by 10 Downing Street at 10am on Thursday 19 March. Bishop Andrew is currently the Suffragan Bishop of Ramsbury in the Diocese of Salisbury.
Bishop Andrew described the news as “a homecoming”, returning to the Diocese in which he was born and baptised, where his father served as a parish priest and where he spent his early life. In his announcement message, he said:
“I am thrilled to be announced today as the next Bishop of St Albans. This is the diocese where I was born, baptised and grew up, and it is a profound joy to return home. My prayer is that together we will come home to Christ, and that our churches, schools and chaplaincies will be places where people of every background can truly belong.”
He also reflected on the place that shaped him:
“Here I am in St Martin’s, Knebworth, beside the font where I was baptised 58 years ago… Life began here for me. But the good news is that whoever you are, and wherever you’re from, Jesus calls you too to set out on the rest of your life following his path.”
Returning home
The day began at St Martin’s Church, Knebworth, where Bishop Andrew was baptised as a baby, and where his father was Vicar. There he met members of the congregation, local clergy and diocesan staff, and offered a short reflection before prayers were said for his new ministry.
Walking the pilgrimage route at Radwell
From Knebworth, Bishop Andrew travelled to Radwell to walk part of the chalk river pilgrimage route. The visit offered time to reflect on environmental care, meet local clergy and community members, and bless the river.
Interfaith conversations and a view to the future in Luton
At St Mary’s Church in Luton, Bishop Andrew met with interfaith partners from a wide range of traditions. Discussions focused on community cohesion, shared priorities across faiths, and the role of churches in supporting young people. He also heard more about exciting redevelopment plans for Luton town centre, including the area around the new football stadium. A tour of the church tower provided stunning views over the town and development site.
Silsoe CofE School
Later in the afternoon, Bishop Andrew visited Silsoe CofE Lower School, where children asked thoughtful questions about his call to ministry and what matters most to him as a bishop. They prayed together, and pupils presented him with a prayer they had written along with an olive tree to plant in his garden. A matching tree will be planted at the school.
Prayer at St Albans Cathedral
The day concluded at St Albans Cathedral with a short tour, followed by Solemn Evensong. Bishop Andrew prayed at the Shrine of St Alban, reflecting on the significance of beginning his new ministry at the shrine of Britain’s first saint and martyr:
“What a day it’s been… and how humbling and meaningful to conclude it by the Shrine of Alban.”
He ended with a message for the Diocese:
“I’m so looking forward to meeting you all. The Lord’s peace be with you.”
About Bishop Andrew
The Right Revd Dr Andrew Paul Rumsey is currently the Suffragan Bishop of Ramsbury in the Diocese of Salisbury and will be well known to many in this region, having been born and raised in the Diocese of St Albans, where his father served as a parish priest. He studied at the University of Reading and King’s College London before training for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Ordained deacon in 1997 and priest in 1998, he has served in a range of parish contexts, including Trinity St Michael, Harrow, and later as Vicar of Christ Church, Gipsy Hill in the Diocese of Southwark. He went on to become Rector of the Oxted Team Ministry in 2011.
Bishop Andrew has served as Bishop of Ramsbury since 2019 and is also the Church of England’s national lead bishop for church buildings. Alongside his episcopal ministry, he is known for his writing on place and belonging, including Parish: An Anglican Theology of Place (2017) and English Grounds: A Pastoral Journal (2022). He is also a singer‑songwriter; his latest album, Evensongs, was recorded live in the 12th‑century church of All Saints, Ham, where he and his collaborators set out to capture the natural sounds and character of a summer’s day in the building.
Bishop Andrew will move to the Diocese with his wife, Rebecca, and their family later this year, asking for prayers as they prepare for the transition. “Please know that I will be praying for you,” he said, “and I ask you to pray for me and our family as we prepare for all that lies ahead.”