HIS MAJESTY The King has officially approved the appointment of the next Bishop of Reading.
The Revd Canon Mary Gregory has been named as the successor to the post following her endorsement by King Charles III to take the role.
It follows the stepping down of the previous Bishop, The Rt Revd Olivia Graham, who gave a farewell service on Sunday, September 30.
During the service she laid down her crozier, mitre, and cope, leaving the role she had performed for five years.
Hundreds gathered at the service to bid farewell to the Bishop and celebrate her further 22 years of ordained service in the diocese.
Revd Gregory was ordained in 2005 following work in the prison service which included her roles as governor at both Wakefield and Moorland Prison.
She then served her curacies and early incumbencies in the Dioceses of Sheffield and Leicester, having studied theology at Cranmer Hall, Durham.
She is also currently Canon for the Arts and Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, which has a global reputation for its work on reconciliation.
The See of Reading is vacant following the retirement of the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham in September of this year.
Bishop Designate Mary will be consecrated in spring 2025, alongside our new Bishop of Buckingham who is also being announced today as the Revd Canon Dave Bull.
Revd Gregory said of her appointment: “It is a real privilege and a great joy to be joining the Diocese of Oxford as the Bishop of Reading.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know Berkshire, its towns and villages, and above all, its people. I am keen to understand how I can best lead our church communities in sharing the hope that we have in God, and in all that God is doing amongst us.
“There is so much for me to discover–I welcome people’s prayers at this time of transition, just as I’m praying for all those amongst whom I will live and serve.”
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft said: “I am delighted that Mary has accepted the invitation to be the next Bishop of Reading.
“She brings great warmth, humanity and a profound understanding of the healing power of reconciliation in God’s world.
“Given the tensions and conflicts in the world, this will be a significant area of focus as we all pray for peace in our communities–she is committed to the protection of the environment and the strengthening of our interfaith work.”
The Very Revd John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry Cathedral, said: “We are delighted that Canon Mary Gregory has been chosen to be the new Bishop of Reading.
“She will bring passion for God and all God’s people, along with excellent and imaginative leadership to the Reading Episcopal Area, and the Diocese of Oxford as a whole.
“Her commitment to making all feel welcome and honoured in the church, both those who are already part of the church community as ministers, members and volunteers and also those who do not consider themselves part of the church family is outstanding.”
He added: “In her three years in Coventry Cathedral Mary has led us significantly forward in our journey towards being a welcoming, safe and inclusive place for all people, with arts and reconciliation at its core.
“We will miss her, but rejoice that her vocation to episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Oxford has been recognised and affirmed in this important appointment.”
