20/10/2020
Downing Street has announced this morning that Her Majesty The Queen has approved the nomination of the Venerable Mark Wroe, currently Archdeacon of Northumberland, as the next Suffragan Bishop of Berwick in the Diocese of Newcastle.
Mark was educated at St Mary’s University, London and Anglia Polytechnic University and trained for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. He served his title at All Saints Chilvers Coton with St Mary the Virgin, in the diocese of Coventry and was ordained Priest in 1997. In 2000, Mark was appointed Priest-in-Charge, and latterly Vicar of St Alban Windy Nook, Gateshead in the diocese of Durham. Mark took up the roles of Priest-in-Charge of St Barnabas and St Jude, and Vicar of Holy Trinity Jesmond in the Diocese of Newcastle in 2007. In 2017, Mark was additionally appointed Area Dean of Newcastle Central Deanery.
Mark took up his current role as Archdeacon of Northumberland in 2019, having been Acting Archdeacon since 2018. He is married to Caroline (a renal consultant and research professor) and they have three school age children. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne and growing up in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Mark knows the North East well.
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman said: “I am delighted that Mark has accepted the invitation to be the next Bishop of Berwick. Mark is extremely well known in our Diocese, having served here for the last 13 years, most recently as Archdeacon of Northumberland. He brings great experience and is a person of warmth, joy and integrity. Mark was born in Newcastle and grew up in this region, so knows it well and shares a deep commitment to all the rural and urban communities we serve. He is particularly committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society. During this coronavirus pandemic, his presence has been hugely reassuring and I very much look forward to working with him as we continue to share the depth of God’s love and the way in which it touches people’s lives.”
The Venerable Mark Wroe said: “It’s an extraordinary privilege to be called to be the next Bishop of Berwick and to serve God alongside Bishop Christine in Newcastle Diocese. I’m very aware that these are challenging and disorientating times, with many people across our region concerned for loved ones and livelihoods, yet the Church has such deep hope and joy in Jesus Christ to offer. I look forward to working with all those in our communities, who seek to work together for a more compassionate society, and to sharing our hope and faith in Christ with humility and courage.”
The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell said: “I am delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has accepted the nomination of the Venerable Mark Wroe as the next Suffragan Bishop of Berwick. Mark has a heart for the people of God in the North East. His compassion, dedication and energy will inspire others in growing church and in building hope. I pray he will continue to be a blessing to the Diocese of Newcastle in his new role”.
Mark will be ordained and consecrated a bishop by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell in a service early next year.
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For further information contact Roderick Stuart, Head of Communications, Diocese of Newcastle, on 07825 777386 or [email protected].
Notes for Editors:
- The Diocese of Newcastle is the Church of England from the River Tyne to the Scottish Border, and encompasses the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, the County of Northumberland, North Tyneside and small areas of Cumbria and County Durham. It includes 238 parish churches and 45 Church of England Schools.
- The Suffragan Bishop of Berwick supports the Bishop of Newcastle’s ministry across the entire Diocese of Newcastle. The Bishop of Newcastle leads the Diocese and is both the source of teaching authority and the focus for unity within it. A Suffragan Bishop exercises their ministry in support of and by permission of the Diocesan Bishop, and takes their title from a place within the diocese.
- Mark Wroe’s appointment follows the departure earlier this year of Bishop Mark Tanner, who became Bishop of Berwick in 2016, to become Bishop of Chester.
- Before 2016, the title Bishop of Berwick has been in abeyance since the death in 1572 of the first Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Thomas Sparke.