Leadership

The Rt Rev Dr Jonathan Gibbs is the Bishop of Rochester. He was welcomed and installed as the 108th Bishop of Rochester in September 2022 Read more

Jonathan grew up in Cheshire and then studied at Jesus College, Oxford for his MA in Philosophy and Politics and Jesus College, Cambridge for a PhD on the Theology of Work.

He trained for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his curacy in the Diocese of Chester at Stalybridge, Holy Trinity and Christ Church from 1989 -92. He was Chaplain at Basle with Freiburg-im-Breisgau, in the Diocese of Europe from 1992 – 98 and was Rector of Heswall in the Diocese of Chester from 1998 until 2014.

Jonathan was consecrated as Bishop of Huddersfield in York Minster on 17 October 2014. He held the national church portfolio of Lead Bishop for Safeguarding until the end of March 2023.

He was formerly a member of the Clergy Discipline Commission and is a member of the General Synod and of the Meissen Commission, linking the Church of England with the Evangelical Church in Germany.

He is married to his wife Toni, and they have three grown-up children. His interests include walking, usually accompanied by their Cocker Spaniel, and rummaging in second-hand bookshops.

• If you need to contact the Bishop's Office, please email: Bishopscourt@rochester.anglican.org or call 01634 842721
• To contact Bishop Jonathan directly please email: Bishop.Rochester@rochester.anglican.org

 

The Rt Rev Simon Burton-Jones is the Bishop of Tonbridge. Simon is the seventh Bishop of Tonbridge, having been consecrated at St Paul’s Cathedral exactly twenty-five years to the day since being ordained for the first time. Simon was born and brought up in Fleetwood, Lancashire, studied law at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and worked as a researcher and political campaigner before ordination.

He trained at St John’s College, Nottingham and was ordained as Deacon in the Diocese of Blackburn in 1993, becoming Team Curate at St Peter, Darwen and St Paul, Hoddlesden (1993-96) and has served in the Diocese of Rochester as Curate of St Mark, Biggin Hill (1996-98), Priest in Charge and then Vicar of St Mary, Bromley (1998-2005), Area Dean of Bromley (2001-2006), and Rector of St Nicholas, Chislehurst (2005-2010) before being appointed Archdeacon of Rochester (2010 – 2018).

As Bishop of Tonbridge, he focuses on evangelism and growth, rooted in Called Together, the Diocese of Rochester’s vision. He also has oversight and leadership of the education, youth and children, and community engagement work of churches across the Diocese of Rochester. In relation to education, he chairs the Diocesan Board of Education, supporting the work of the 89 Church of England schools within the Diocese.

His role will be to provide leadership, ideas and insight for the diocese as it pursues the vision embodied in Called Together.  Helping people to express their faith openly and kindly, and thinking through what it means to be disciples of Christ in today’s complex and volatile world will be an important component of this role – keeping the Church especially mindful of the challenges of children and young people growing up within it.

Simon is married to Julia and they have two children, Tim and Helena and a daughter in law, Aislinn.  He is a lover of contemporary literature, indie cinema, theatre, rock music – notably U2 – and lots of sports, greedily supporting three football teams in Fleetwood, Blackpool and Liverpool.  He was an early adopter of TV’s The West Wing and wishes he could have worked in the Bartlet administration – or at least have every conversation of his scripted by Aaron Sorkin. 

He has spent far too much of his life watching The Simpsons and his only real achievement has been to get a quote in an all-time book of cricket quotations.  However, he piggybacks on the recent revelation that one of his ancestors baptised William Shakespeare.  Some people say he has a lovely voice, which is a polite way of saying he has a face for the radio.

• If you want to contact Bishop Simon about his diary, services and other administrative matters, please contact his PA: caroline.butler@rochester.anglican.org
• To contact Bishop Simon directly please email: Bishop.Tonbridge@rochester.anglican.org
• Follow Bishop Simon on Twitter at @BishopTonbridge

The Venerable Allie Kerr joined the Diocese of Rochester in April 2023. She previously served in Portsmouth Diocese since her first incumbency in 2012, for seven years on the Isle of Wight and in the city of Portsmouth.

Prior to ordination, Allie worked as PA to a vicar and before that, held a variety of retail management positions.  She trained at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and served her curacy in Salisbury Diocese.

• To contact Allie Kerr directly please email: archdeacon.bromley@rochester.anglican.org
• You can also contact her Executive Assistant, Fiona Porter on: fiona.porter@rochester.anglican.org

 

• To contact  Interim Archdeacon Andrew directly please email: andrew.davey@rochester.anglican.org
• You can also contact his Executive Assistant, Fiona Porter on: fiona.porter@rochester.anglican.org

 

The Venerable Sharon Copestake was welcomed into her new role as the Archdeacon of Tonbridge in January 2022.

Sharon comes to the role having served as Vicar at St Francis, Strood for over six years, and as Area Dean of Strood for almost five. Read more about Sharon.

• To contact Archdeacon Sharon directly please email: archdeacon.tonbridge@rochester.anglican.org
• You can also contact her Executive Assistant Sal Hamlyn on: sal.hamlyn@rochester.anglican.org

 

The Rev Canon Victoria Pask -Associate Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley

This role is not in post yet, so please contact your relevant archdeacon

The Rev Wil North - Associate Archdeacon of Tonbridge
The Rev Nick Cornell - Associate Archdeacon of Tonbridge

Beckenham The Rev Canon Jeremy Blunden

Bromley The Rev Canon Victoria Pask

Orpington The Rev Neil Coleman

Erith The Rev Jim Bennett

Sidcup The Rev Ian Smith

Cobham The Rev Helen Reeves

Dartford Rev Batley-Gladden

Gillingham Rev Canon Brian Senior

Gravesend The Rev Nigel Bourne

Rochester The Rev Martyn Saunders

Strood The Rev Nicholas Cooper

Malling The Rev Wil North

Paddock Wood The Rev Andrew Axon

Sevenoaks The Rev Tim Edwards

Shoreham The Rev Dr Chris Noble

Tonbridge The Rev Lisa Cornell

Tunbridge Wells  The Rev Nicholas Cornell
 

Matthew Girt is the Diocesan Secretary - a role rather like a chief executive - and has been in post since 2019. 

Matthew first joined the Diocese in December 2014, as Director of Strategy & Implementation, and has led and coordinated major capital projects and strategic developments within the Diocese, particularly around Called Together.

He is a member of the Bishop's Leadership Team and has been in the role since the beginning of September 2019, prior to that as Acting Diocesan Secretary since the end of May 2019.

Matthew has a background in government, town planning and major regeneration projects, and was previous to his role in Rochester part of the Senior Management Team at the Diocese of London leading on the church's response to new housing areas and the building of its first new church in a new place for over 40 years.

• To contact Matthew directly please email: matthew.girt@rochester.anglican.org
• For diary commitments and other enquiries, please contact Kayleigh Palmer, PA to the Diocesan Secretary on: kayleigh.palmer@rochester.anglican.org