Jump directly to the content
HOLY ORDERS

Who is The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell?

Stephen Cottrell

STEPHEN Cottrell is a Church of England Bishop and has held the position of Archbishop of York since July 2020.

He is the second most senior bishop in the church.

Stephen Cottrell became the Archbishop of York in July 2020
2
Stephen Cottrell became the Archbishop of York in July 2020Credit: Getty

Who is The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell?

Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell was born on August 31, 1958 in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

He attended Belfairs High School and studied at the Polytechnic of Central London, gaining a BA in media studies in 1979.

From 1981 to 1984, he trained for ordination at St Stephens House, Oxford.

He later studied Christian leadership at St Mellitus College, London, receiving an MA in 2019.

Read More on Archbishops

He was made a deacon in July 1984 and became ordained as a priest in July 1985.

His ordained ministry began as a curate at Christ Church, Forest Hill in Southwark.

Before his ordination to the episcopate he was canon pastor to Peterborough Cathedral.

Cottrell was nominated area Bishop of Reading in January 2004 and consecrated in May the same year.

He then became the Bishop of Chelmsford in November 2010 and four years after that became a Lord Spiritual one of the 26 senior diocesan bishops entitled to sit in the House of Lords.

On 17 December 2019, it was announced that Cottrell would succeed John Sentamu as the Bishop of York.

He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor on July 21, 2020.

He is the author of 20 books, including children’s stories and supports Spurs.

What are the The Archbishop of York duties?

The Archbishop of York is the second-most senior clerical position in the Church of England after the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He is one of the Presidents of the General Synod and of the Archbishop's Council.

He is also Chair and President of numerous Church bodies.

He is a Primate of England and Archbishop of the Province of York, leading the twelve dioceses in the northern province of the Church of England.

The Archbishop represents the Church of England internationally.

First and foremost though he is a bishop of a Diocese making him responsible for the care and encouragement of the clergy and people in the Diocese.

As the title suggests, he is responsible for the province of York.

The Diocese of York is one of the largest geographically in the Church of England with 450 parishes.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Cottrell, left, with The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in September 2022
2
Cottrell, left, with The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in September 2022Credit: Reuters

Is The Archbishop of York married and does he have any children?

Read More on The Sun

He is married to Rebecca, who is a potter, and they have three children.

They also have one grandson and a dog.

Topics