The Venerable Rod Green, Archdeacon of Llandaff in the Church of Wales, has today been announced as the next Bishop of Stepney in the Diocese of London, covering the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Islington and Hackney. As Bishop of Stepney, Rod will chair the London Diocesan Board for Schools and take responsibility for the creative growth portfolio in the Diocese.
The Ven. Rod Green, Bishop-designate of Stepney, said:
“I am absolutely thrilled to be returning to the Stepney Area. God is doing some extraordinary things in Stepney and I am looking forward to joining in with what God is already doing. I have deep biological roots in the area. My dad grew up in Stepney. His first job was at the old post office in Islington. My children were born here. My wife already works in Canary Wharf. I have deep spiritual roots here too. Stepney is where I first discerned my vocation and where I was formed as a priest. I am really looking forward to catching up with old friends, making new ones, and working together to help every church and chaplaincy flourish as safe, healthy and loving Gospel communities.”
Having begun the day with a prayer walk and Eucharist at St Dunstan’s Stepney, the announcement was made during a visit to St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington, a leading secondary school sponsored by the London Diocesan Board of Schools which the Bishop of Stepney will chair.
As part of today’s introduction to the Stepney Area, Rod will visit different churches from right across the area, including Hope Church Islington, which hosts Spear, an award winning employment scheme for young people, where he will meet the chaplaincy team from Pentonville Prison. From there he will visit St John at Jerusalem in Hackney, part of the Hackney and Islington Project, where he will meet with local clergy who have signed the Catholic Mission Covenant to encourage one another in outreach to their communities. He will then drop in to St Paul Old Ford and see the Stepney youth van, used to reach young people on the area’s estates. He will finish the day at St Paul’s Shadwell, one of the first church plants in the area, for a service and reception.
He added:
“It is good to start today, the feast day of St Cuthbert, at St Dunstan’s, Stepney’s first church, receiving Christ at the Eucharist. These early saints were missionaries and reformers, holy and prayerful. Good role models for a new Bishop.”
The appointment marks a return to the Diocese of London for Rod, who was ordained priest in the Stepney Area in 2008, serving his curacy at Christ Church Spitalfields, before taking up the role of Associate Rector at St Paul’s, Shadwell in 2011. In 2014 Rod was appointed Vicar at St Peter’s, West Harrow, in the Willesden Area. He has served as Archdeacon of Llandaff since 2021.
Rod has particular interests in evangelism, theological learning, preaching, spiritual formation and leadership development. Rod is an experienced community organiser and as Bishop of Stepney will work to build broad based alliances of faith and community institutions working together for the common good of the city.
The Rt Revd Dr Emma Ineson, Bishop of Kensington and Acting Bishop of London, said:
“It is such good news to welcome Rod back to the Diocese of London. God’s call to Rod was clear, and I am so grateful for the gifts in evangelism, pastoral warmth, theological depth, and familiarity with the Area that he brings. The churches and communities of Stepney Episcopal Area will be greatly blessed by his gifts and ministry, and my fellow London College of Bishops and I very much look forward to working alongside him in the months and years ahead.”
Rod will formally take up the role on May 1 2026 following consecration at St Paul’s Cathedral. He succeeds the Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell following her appointment as Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.