TheBishop of Maidstone is anepiscopal title used by asuffragan bishop of theChurch of EnglandDiocese of Canterbury, in theProvince of Canterbury,England.[1] The title takes its name after thecounty town ofMaidstone inKent.
Until 2009, the suffragan Bishop of Maidstone had a similar, though subordinate, role to that of theBishop of Dover: to assist the diocesan bishop (theArchbishop of Canterbury) in the episcopal leadership of the Diocese of Canterbury. It was decided at the diocesan synod of November 2010 that a new bishop would not be appointed; rather theArchdeaconry of Ashford was erected.[2]
On 4 December 2014, it was announced that the see of Maidstone would be filled again in order to providealternative episcopal oversight for particular members of the Church of England who take aconservative evangelical view onmale "headship".[3] On 23 September 2015,Rod Thomas was consecrated Bishop of Maidstone.[4]
In June 2022, it was announced that, from January 2023, oversight of conservative Anglo-Catholics in the west of theProvince of Canterbury (formerly theBishop of Ebbsfleet's area) would be taken by a newBishop of Oswestry,suffragan to theBishop of Lichfield; while oversight of conservative Evangelicals would be taken by the next Bishop of Ebbsfleet; the See of Maidstone would be left vacant, available for other uses.[5]
| Bishops of Maidstone | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1944 | 1946 | Leslie Owen | Translated toLincoln |
| 1946 | 1956 | no appointment | |
| 1956 | 1966 | Stanley Betts | |
| 1966 | 1969 | no appointment | |
| 1969 | 1976 | Geoffrey Tiarks | |
| 1976 | 1980 | Richard Third | Translated toDover |
| 1980 | 1987 | Robert Hardy | Translated toLincoln |
| 1987 | 1992 | David Smith | Translated toBradford |
| 1992 | 2001 | Gavin Reid[6] | |
| 2001 | 2009 | Graham Cray | |
| 2009 | 2015 | vacant | |
| Bishops of Maidstone (AEO) | |||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 2015 | 2022 | Rod Thomas | [4] Retired 2 October 2022.[7] |
| Source(s):[1] | |||
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