The Bishop of Tewkesbury is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester, in the Province of Canterbury, England.[1] The title takes its name after the town of TewkesburyinGloucestershire, but the bishop's responsibilities cover the whole diocese.[2] As with all suffragan sees, the need for the see of Tewkesbury is reconsidered every time it falls vacant. In both 2013 and 2016, the diocesan synod recommended that a new bishop be appointed, concluding that the need for a bishop was greater than ever.[3]
The first Bishop of Tewkesbury, Austin Hodson, was consecrated on 24 February 1938, as a suffragan to the Bishop of Gloucester.[4] The longest-serving bishop to date was John Went, who retired in 2013 after 17 years in post. The only bishop to have died in office was Robert Deakin, who died on 3 August 1985, aged 68.[5][6]
The incumbent is Robert Springett, previously Archdeacon of Cheltenham, whose nomination to the Suffragan See of Tewkesbury was approved by the Queen on 25 July 2016.[7] His consecration took place on 30 November.[8]
| Bishops of Tewkesbury | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1938 | 1955 | Austin Hodson | (1879–1961) |
| 1955 | 1960 | Edward Henderson | (1910–1986). TranslatedtoBath and Wells |
| 1960 | 1973 | Forbes Horan | (1905–1996) |
| 1973 | 1985 | Robert Deakin | (1917–1985). Formerly Vicar of St Mary's Charlton Kings and Rural Dean of Cheltenham. Consecrated 1973. Died in office 1985. |
| 1986 | 1995 | Jeremy Walsh | (b. 1929). Formerly Rector of Ipswich. Consecrated January 1986. Retired 1995. |
| 1996 | 2013 | John Went | (b. 1944) Formerly Archdeacon of Surrey |
| 2013 | 2016 | Martyn Snow | (b. 1968) Formerly Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham; translated to Leicester |
| 2016 | present | Robert Springett | (b. 1962) Formerly Archdeacon of Cheltenham; consecrated 30 November 2016.[9] |
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| Active suffragan sees |
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| Former suffragan sees |
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See also: Suffragan Bishops Act 1534; Bishop for the Falkland Islands; Bishop to the Forces; spokesperson bishops; Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York | |||||
