I am the 98th serving Archbishop of York, but before any title or role, I am simply Stephen, a follower of Jesus. When I was asked about my vision on becoming Archbishop, I replied simply: I haven’t come with a brand-new vision or a clever slogan. What I do have is this – what I’ve seen in Jesus Christ has changed my life, and I believe it could help change the world.
In Jesus, I see what our humanity is meant to be like – generous, compassionate, truthful, courageous. If you long for a kinder world, a more peaceful world, a world where mercy matters, then you catch a glimpse of this in Jesus.
Finding faith
I wasn’t brought up going to church, but even as a child, I carried a real sense of God. I grew up supporting Tottenham Hotspur, went to a secondary modern school and later studied art at the Polytechnic of Central London.
My family’s journey back into church life began in a very ordinary way. My sister joined the Girl Guides, which in those days meant attending a monthly Sunday service – and so we all went. Through family, friendships, youth groups, questions and doubts, I found myself drawn into the orbit of the Church.
I didn’t have a dramatic Damascus Road conversion, more like the Emmaus Road – only later did I realise that Christ had been walking alongside me for years.
As my faith grew, so did a sense of vocation. For me, becoming a Christian, discovering the Church, and sensing a call to ordained ministry are all tangled together. I don’t remember a single moment when it became clear, but I do remember knowing, deep down, that God was calling me. I was ordained young, and I’ve never really had another job.
Finding our vocation
I believe every follower of Jesus has a vocation. God has a big “yes” for every life. The question isn’t do I have a calling, but what is it? Some people know clearly; others need time, prayer, and the help of others to discern it – and that’s perfectly okay.
Preaching
Preaching and writing have always mattered deeply to me. I don’t remember many sermons, but I remember preachers – how they made me feel. One preacher in particular, David Broom, didn’t just speak words. His faithfulness, energy, and passion for the gospel shone out of him. It felt as though he was speaking directly to me, asking what I was going to do with the one life I’d been given. That kind of preaching still inspires me.
I try to preach as a storyteller – holding up a mirror to ordinary life through the lens of the gospel, helping people see how holy and beautiful life can be when it’s lived with God.
Our Father
At the centre of my faith is a deep conviction that we belong to one another. The Lord’s Prayer begins with a dangerous word: our. It’s a declaration of solidarity. When we say it, we commit ourselves to our sisters and brothers – nearby and across the world. My wellbeing and yours are bound together. This is why faith is never just private, and why Christianity always has something to say about justice, climate care, community, and compassion.
Outside of church life
I love to cook, to walk, to play the guitar badly and I have a love of lino printing – something I began at school and have carried with me ever since. I also love trees. They remind me that faith is rooted, patient, and alive, bearing fruit in due season.
