Deborah Mary Sellin (born 1 October 1964[1]) is a Church of England bishop serving as Bishop of Peterborough since 2023. She was previously Bishop of Southampton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester, and acted as diocesan Bishop of Winchester.
Deborah Sellin | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Peterborough | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Peterborough |
| In office | 13 December 2023 to present |
| Predecessor | Donald Allister |
| Previous post(s) | acting Bishop of Winchester (2021–2023) Bishop of Southampton (2019–2023) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2007 (deacon) 2008 (priest) |
| Consecration | 3 July 2019 by Justin Welby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 October 1964 Dumfries, Scotland, UK |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews |
| Member of the House of Lords (Lord Spiritual) | |
| Assumed office 18 October 2024 | |
Early life and education
editSellin is originally from Scotland,[2] and was born in Dumfries on 1 October 1964.[3] She studied at the University of St Andrews, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree in 1986.[4] She worked a manager in the National Health Service (NHS) and then as a family and children's worker.[2] She trained for ordination with the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme between 2004 and 2007.[4]
Ordained ministry
editSellin was ordained as a deacon at Petertide 2007 (1 July),[5] ordained as a priest at the Petertide following (28 June 2008) – both times by Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, at Guildford Cathedral[6] – and served all her parish ministry in the Diocese of Guildford.[4] She was a Non-Stipendiary Minister at St Saviour, Guildford, from 2007 to 2010, then Vicar of Wonersh from 2010 to 2019 and also Area Dean of Cranleigh from 2015 to 2019. In 2018 she was made an Honorary Canon of Guildford Cathedral.[7]
Episcopal ministry
editIn April 2019, it was announced that Sellin would be the next Bishop of Southampton; she legally took up her role on 3 July 2019, the day of her consecration [8][9][10] by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral.[11]
On 20 May 2021 it was reported that Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, had "stepped back" as diocesan bishop for six weeks, in light of the threat of a diocesan synod motion of no confidence in his leadership. David Williams, Bishop of Basingstoke, the other suffragan bishop, also "stepped back" (he was said to be in sympathy with the protesters) and Sellin served as acting diocesan bishop.[12] The "stepping back" was later extended[13] and on 16 July Dakin announced that he would retire in February 2022; meanwhile, Sellin continued as acting diocesan bishop.[14] On 11 January 2022 the Archbishop of Canterbury announced that Sellin would continue as acting diocesan bishop during the vacancy following Dakin's formal retirement on 6 February 2022.[15] She remained so until 10 October 2023 when Philip Mounstephen was confirmed as Bishop of Winchester[16] and formally took up his appointment.
On 28 September 2023, Sellin was announced as the next Bishop of Peterborough, to be installed in early 2024.[17] She legally took up the See upon the confirmation, on 13 December 2023 at Lambeth Palace Chapel, of her election.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Sellin, Deborah Mary". Who's Who. A & C Black. 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ a b Byford, Celine (16 July 2019). "First female Bishop of Southampton takes up role". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Southampton, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Deborah Mary Sellin) (born 1 Oct. 1964)". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "Deborah Mary Sellin". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 7530. 6 July 2007. p. 26. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 7581. 4 July 2007. p. 25. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ Wonersh Church
- ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Southampton: 16 April 2019". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "A New Bishop for Southampton". Diocese of Winchester. 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "UK news in brief - New Suffragan Bishop of Southampton". Church Times. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ Winchester Anglican
- ^ "Bishop of Winchester steps back after diocesan rebellion". Church Times. No. 8253. 21 May 2021. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Talks about Dakin's future to continue". Church Times. No. 8259. 2 July 2021. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Bishop of Winchester announces retirement". winchester.anglican.org. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Winchester - News - Archbishop confirms arrangements following Bishop of Winchester's retirement". Diocese of Winchester. 11 January 2022.
- ^ "(section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "New Bishop of Peterborough Announced". Diocese of Peterborough. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ @Peterborodio (13 December 2023). "This evening Bishop Debbie was confirmed as the 39th Bishop of Peterborough..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023 – via Twitter.