Three candidates have been short-listed for the office of Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane which became vacant in July 2017 following the retirement of the Most Rev David Chillingworth.

The candidates have been selected by a Preparatory Committee (chaired by the Rt Rev Dr John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh) consisting of clergy and lay church members who represent the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and the wider Church. The next stage in the selection process is a meeting of each of the candidates with members of an Electoral Synod (representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane only). That meeting will take place on Saturday 26 May, with the election of the new Bishop taking place on Saturday 2 June 2018.

The candidates are:

The Rev Canon Dr Charlotte Methuen, Professor of Church History at the University of Glasgow and Honorary Assistant Priest, St Margaret’s Church, Newlands

The Rev Christopher Newlands, Vicar of Lancaster

The Rev Canon Ian Paton, Rector, Old St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh

Commenting on the short-list of candidates the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Mark Strange, says “I thank members of the Preparatory Committee for the work they have done and am delighted that three candidates are being nominated to the Electoral Synod. We hope that the discernment in the Electoral Synod will enable them to elect a new bishop who will lead the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane in its future ministry and mission, and hold each of the candidates and the Diocese in our prayers during this process”

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