Bishop of Liverpool | |
|---|---|
| Bishopric | |
| anglican | |
| Incumbent: John Perumbalath(on leave) Ruth Worsley,Bishop of Wigan(ad interim) | |
| Location | |
| Ecclesiastical province | York |
| Residence | Bishop's Lodge,Woolton |
| Information | |
| First holder | J. C. Ryle |
| Established | 1880 |
| Diocese | Liverpool |
| Cathedral | Liverpool Cathedral |
TheBishop of Liverpool is theordinary of theChurch of EnglandDiocese of Liverpool in theProvince of York.[1][2]
The diocese stretches fromSouthport in the north toWidnes in the south, and from theRiver Mersey toWigan in the east.[3] Itssee is in theCity of Liverpool at theCathedral Church of Christ.[4] The bishop's residence isBishop's Lodge,Woolton[5] — east of Liverpool city centre.[6]
The office has existed since the founding of the diocese in 1880 underQueen Victoria. The current Bishop of Liverpool,John Perumbalath, is on leave pending his retirement[7] following accusations of sexual misconduct.[8]
On 28 February 2025, it was announced thatRuth Worsley was to becomeInterim Bishop of Liverpool (i.e. interim diocesan bishop of theDiocese of Liverpool) for a period of two years starting later in 2025; to facilitate this role, she was translated from Taunton to the vacant suffragan See of Wigan (becomingBishop of Wigan)[9] byletters patent issued on 4 April.[10] She was then welcomed as Interim Bishop on 3 May 2025,[11] initially as anhonorary assistant bishop, pending her translation to be Bishop suffragan of Wigan.[12]
| Bishops of Liverpool | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1880 | 1900 |  John Charles Ryle | Nominated on 11 May andconsecrated on 11 June 1880. Resigned on 1 March 1900 and died on 10 June 1900. |
| 1900 | 1923 |  Francis Chavasse | Nominated on 24 March and consecrated on 25 April 1900. Resigned on 1 October 1923 and died on 11 March 1928. |
| 1923 | 1944 |  Albert David | Translated fromSt Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Nominated on 3 October and confirmed on 18 October 1923. Resigned on 15 April 1944 and died on 24 December 1950. |
| 1944 | 1966 | Clifford Martin | Nominated on 3 July and consecrated on 25 July 1944. Resigned on 30 November 1965 and died on 11 August 1977. |
| 1966 | 1975 | Stuart Blanch | Nominated on 22 December 1965 and consecrated on 25 March 1966. Translated toYork on 9 January 1975. |
| 1975 | 1997 | David Sheppard | Translated fromWoolwich. Nominated on 2 May and confirmed on 3 June 1975. Resigned in 1997, created Baron Sheppard of Liverpool on 14 February 1998, and died on 5 March 2005. Represented England at cricket 22 times. |
| 1998 | 2013 | James Jones[13] | Translated fromHull. Nominated and confirmed in 1998. |
| 23 July 2014 | 2022 | _(Paul_Bayes_cropped).jpg) Paul Bayes | Translated fromHertford.[14] Installed on 15 November 2014 atLiverpool Cathedral; retired 1 March 2022.[15] |
| 2023 | on leave | .jpg) John Perumbalath(on leave) | Translated fromBishop of Bradwell;confirmed 20 January 2023;[16] on leave since 30 January 2025 pending retirement and has since resigned announced his retirement days after facing allegations of misconduct from two women, including another bishop.[7] |
| 2025 | ad interim | Ruth Worsley, interim bishop andBishop of Wigan | PreviouslyBishop of Taunton; also suffraganSee of Wigan since 4 April 2025;[9][10] interim diocesan bishop, 3 May 2025.[12][11] |
| Source(s):[17][18] | |||
Among those who have served as Assistant Bishop of Liverpool were:
Those who have served in retirement ashonorary assistant bishops include:
