Bishop Trevor to move to Canterbury
5 October 2009, updated 13:44 (first published 11:30)
Bishop Trevor, the Bishop of Basingstoke, will become the next Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury.
The announcement was made by Downing Street this morning. The Rt Revd Trevor Willmott, who has been the Bishop of Basingstoke since 2002, will take delegated responsibility for the oversight of the Diocese of Canterbury on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
Bishop Trevor said: "I feel very privileged to be chosen by the Archbishop for this role. There are many exciting initiatives happening in the Diocese such as the new Church sponsored academies, but also there is a real sense of clergy and congregations working hard to reach out to communities. I am enlivened by people and I look forward to meeting and serving communities across the region and acting as a pastor to the clergy of the Diocese".
The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, congratulated Bishop Trevor on the appointment and thanked him for all his work during his time in the Diocese of Winchester.
Bishop Trevor, who in his own words was "given the gift of faith" as a teenager, by an inspiring Christian family, studied for ordained ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge after a first degree in Theology at St Peter's College, Oxford. Following a curacy at St George's Norton in St Alban's Diocese, Bishop Trevor worked in Chaplaincy roles in Oslo then Naples in the Diocese of Europe, and as Officiating Chaplain to H.M. and American Forces in Southern Europe, before returning to England as Rector of Ecton and Warden of Peterborough Diocesan Retreat House; a role he held from 1983-1989.
From 1986 to 1997 Bishop Trevor was Peterborough Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Diocesan Director of Post Ordination Training. He was made Canon Residentiary and Precentor of Peterborough Cathedral in 1989. In 1997 he became Archdeacon of Durham and Canon Residentiary of Durham Cathedral, and in 2002 was consecrated as Bishop of Basingstoke.
During his seven years as the suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke, Bishop Trevor has taken a lead in the areas of social reform, criminal justice and rural affairs, as well as taking particular pastoral responsibility for churches in the North of the Diocese of Winchester. He has been a founding Trustee of the social welfare charity Hampshire Community Foundation and a founding Trustee of Emmaus Hampshire - a charity that cares for the homeless. Bishop Trevor is also the Co-editor of 'Re-shaping Rural Ministry - a Theological and Practical Handbook' - which will be published later this year by SCM.
Bishop Michael, describing Bishop Trevor's time in the Diocese of Winchester, said: "Trevor Willmott has been a marvellous colleague, and a most effective Area Bishop across the Northern half of the Diocese of Winchester, through these last seven years.
"Coming to us fresh from the experience of five years' service as Archdeacon of Durham, Trevor was able very quickly to build the kinds of relationships with churchwardens, clergy, Lay Chairs and Area Deans which won their trust and enabled them to work with him to encourage parishes to look freshly at their calling, their opportunities and their mutual relationships. He masters detail, he grasps 'nettles' where they have to be grasped, he works with remarkable energy and self-discipline, he preaches very well, he has made himself fully available to the clergy of his Area; he has undertaken with other colleagues a series of important Reviews which have contributed a great deal to our life as a Diocese - and at the same time he has been shouldering an increasing burden of work for the Church of England, especially as a member of the successive 'Manchester' Groups, and now of the Revision Committee, exploring and preparing legislation to allow Women Bishops in the Church of England."
He added: "Through all this Trevor is consistently encouraging and cheerful; he has developed a beautiful garden; and he cooks splendid and imaginative meals! Both I, and the Diocese of Winchester, will miss him greatly, and his wife Margaret with him; but I am delighted both for Canterbury and for him that he is to be the Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury."
Bishop Trevor has many national church responsibilities and was elected to the Upper House of the Convocation in the Province of Canterbury in 2005 and is a member of the Business Committee of the Church of England's General Synod.
On his plans for Canterbury Diocese, Bishop Trevor commentated: "I will use my first few months to listen to the opportunities and challenges facing the Diocese and to discern what God wants us to do. I will challenge, encourage and celebrate with the people of the Diocese as we look for new ways of being the church in Kent."
Commenting on Bishop Trevor's appointment, Archbishop Rowan said: "I am very pleased indeed to welcome Bishop Trevor to the Diocese. He is an experienced pastor, with a powerful vision for the Church in contemporary society, and also a wise and reflective person who will bring great depth to our conversations and plans in Canterbury. I hope he and Margaret will be very happy here, and greatly look forward to our work together."
Recalling when he received the news of his appointment (via a telephone call from the Archbishop of Canterbury) Bishop Trevor described his reaction: "My first reaction was of absolute joy and delight but also of unworthiness that the Archbishop of Canterbury should consider me for this important role."
The appointment of Bishop Trevor follows the announcement of the intention to retire at the end of November by the current Bishop of Dover, the Right Reverend Dr Stephen Venner.
Commenting about Bishop Trevor's appointment, Bishop Stephen said: "I am delighted both personally and professionally at the news of Trevor's appointment to succeed me as Bishop of Dover. He has been a friend for many years, and I know him to be a Godly, loving and faithful colleague. Professionally, Trevor brings a breadth of experience in the Church and in the world which will equip him to lead the diocese "forward together towards 2020". I shall leave the Diocese in good hands."
On hearing news of the appointment, The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Reverend Robert Willis said: "We are delighted to welcome Bishop Trevor to Canterbury. He has great experience of ministry in Cathedral environments, and everyone here at the Cathedral looks forward to his joining us as we offer hospitality and friendship to thousands of visitors and pilgrims each day."
Bishop Trevor is married to Margaret, who works as a school finance consultant. They have one grown up daughter, Elizabeth, a Hydrogeologist who lives in Bristol.
Bishop Trevor, who describes himself as "a real foodie who enjoys cooking", says he is looking forward to living in Kent - particularly eating oysters at Whitstable, drinking fine English wine from the Weald and visiting the Hop Festival at Faversham! Bishop Trevor's other interests include gardening and sport and he is anticipating many happy hours following the progress of the Kent Cricket Club.
Bishop Trevor will be installed and welcomed as Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury on Saturday 6th February at Canterbury Cathedral.