The new Bishop of Taunton is announced

The Ven Ruth Worsley, Archdeacon of Wilts, is to be the next Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

Ruth Worsley has been Archdeacon of Wilts for 2 ½ years. She has been responsible for supporting parishes and clergy on the ground, and acting as a link between them and the bishops.

The Ven Ruth Worsley had this reaction to her appointment:

“I am surprised and amused to be chosen as the next Bishop of Taunton as I grew up in a non-conformist church where women held no roles of leadership. I am delighted to be heading to Somerset to join the diocesan team in this wonderful part of the world, moving ‘next door’ as it were. It will be a great privilege to meet and serve everyone who lives and works in the county.

“In a diocese with such a mix of rural and more urban parishes, each I’m sure with its own distinct personality, I’m really keen to experience how our churches and the diocese are meeting those different needs. And how we can engage in the process of transformation, one which changes lives, both our own and others, and then influences the way in which we are ‘Church’ and brings about a renewed sense of community.”