West Indian bishops appoint Fr. Michael Maxwell to be the 14th Bishop of Barbados

The House of Bishops of the Church of the Province of the West Indies has selected the Rev. Michael Maxwell, rector of Holy Trinity Church in St Philip to be the next 14th Bishop of Barbados. On 16 Nov 2018 the provincial secretary informed the diocese the bishops had selected Fr. Maxwell (47) to succeed the Most Rev. John Holder, Archbishop of the West Indies, who stepped down in February 2018.

The bishops chose Fr. Maxwell after four meetings of the diocesan synod failed to elect a bishop. Each of the elections resulted in a deadlock with the Dean of the Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels, the Very Rev. Jeffrey Gibson, receiving a majority of clergy votes with the rector of St George Parish Church, the Rev. John Rogers securing a majority of lay votes. To be elected the candidate must win two thirds of both the lay and clergy delegates.

The West Indian bishops last appointed a bishop in 2015 when the Rt. Rev. Cornell Moss was appointed Bishop of Guyana after its synod failed to agree on a candidate. No date has yet been set for Bishop-elect Maxwell’s consecration. Once he is seated as bishop the House of Bishops may then elect a successor to Archbishop Holder to be Archbishop and Primate of the West Indies.