An Old Girl of Bolton School, Dr Jill Duff, will become the first female Bishop appointed in Lancashire when she is ordained as next Anglican Suffragan Bishop of Lancaster.
The Bolton-born Reverend is the founding Director of the St Mellitus College, North West – the first full-time ordination course in the North West for over 40 years – offering context-based ordination training and theology courses.
She was a pupil in the Girls’ Division of Bolton School before studying at Christ College, Cambridge and Worcester College, Oxford. Several years in the oil industry followed before Jill trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn, made the appointment following consultation with a representative group from the Diocese.
The Archbishop of York has welcomed the announcement which was approved by Her Majesty The Queen and posted to the Downing Street website. Jill succeeds Rt Rev. Geoff Pearson, who retired last July. The date of her consecration at York Minster is June 29, 2018.
Reflecting on her appointment, Jill said: “I am thrilled and humbled to be appointed the eighth Bishop of Lancaster. This is a vibrant and exciting part of the Church of England with its Vision 2026: Healthy Churches Transforming Communities. Being born and brought up in Lancashire, the region has been in my heart in prayer for many years.
“Time and again I have seen how, with prayer and perseverance, churches can grow, and it will be good to be part of a courageous Diocese that is looking to the future with real hope.”
