THE next Bishop of Taunton, the Rt Rev Fiona Gibson, was in Wiveliscombe on Wednesday (October 22) as her appointment was announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s office.

The bishop-designate, who is a keen wild swimmer, was visiting St Andrew’s Church to meet local clergy and church and community volunteers from this rural area of the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

Also attending St Andrew’s with her were the Bishop of Bath and Wells the Rt Rev Michael Beasley, Taunton Archdeacon the Rev Preb Simon Hill, and the Rector of St Andrew’s the Rev Jamie Fox, who only took charge in February.

Bishop Fiona is currently the Archdeacon of Ludlow, in the Diocese of Hereford, a role which she has held since 2021.

She said: “As a child and teenager I visited family friends in Porlock for holidays nearly every year, and have many happy memories of exploring Exmoor and further afield.

“To be able to return to such a beautiful place, while serving its people as Bishop of Taunton, is both deeply humbling and a great joy.

“Having ministered in both urban and very rural settings, I hope this will help me serve its diversity of people, from those in the beautiful city of Bath to the smallest hamlet on Exmoor, those living along the coast and in the towns, and everywhere in between.

“I am very much looking forward to coming to learn and to share with Bishop Michael and all God’s people as we seek the paths where God will lead us in the coming years, and live out our common calling to share the timeless truths and hope of the Christian faith in our ever-changing world.”

Bishop Michael said: “I am really excited to welcome Fiona’s appointment.

“She has done an outstanding job as the Archdeacon of Ludlow and has a huge amount of expertise that will help us as we seek to grow our church and our increase our work within our communities across Somerset.

“Her rural experience and educational background will, in particular, be a wonderful gift to us.”

Bishop Fiona will first be consecrated as a bishop before an installation as Bishop of Taunton in a service in Wells Cathedral early next year.

She will take over from outgoing Bishop of Taunton the Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, who has become interim Bishop of Liverpool.

Bishop Fiona was born and brought up in north London and is married to David and was ordained deacon in 2011 and priest in 2012.

A former primary school teacher, she served her curacy and first incumbency in the Diocese of St Albans, before her appointment as Archdeacon of Ludlow.

The couple have two adult children and when not working Bishop Fiona also enjoys reading, playing board games, listening to podcasts, walking, and taking photographs.

The diocese stretches from Portishead in the north to Crewkerne in the south, Minehead in the west, and Frome in the east, with 300 clergy, 558 churches, 180 schools, 493 parishes, 150 chaplaincies and 370 lay readers serving about a million people.