Sarah Ruth Bullock (born 17 March 1964) is a British Church of England bishop. Since 2019, she has served as Bishop of Shrewsbury, an area bishop in the Diocese of Lichfield.[1] She was previously Archdeacon of York since 2013.[2]


Sarah Bullock
Bishop of Shrewsbury
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Lichfield
In office2019 to present
PredecessorMark Rylands
Other post(s)Archdeacon of York (2013–2019)
Orders
Ordination1993 (deacon)
1994 (priest)
Consecration3 July 2019
by Justin Welby
Personal details
Born (1964-03-17) 17 March 1964 (age 60)
DenominationAnglicanism
Alma materUniversity of Surrey
Durham University

Early life and education

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Bullock was born on 17 March 1964.[3] She studied English at the University of Surrey, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1986.[4] She then worked as a teacher at Cheadle Hulme School, a private school in Manchester, from 1986 to 1990.[4] During this time, she was also an assistant diocesan youth officer.[4]

In 1990, Bullock matriculated into Cranmer Hall, Durham to train for ordination.[5] During this time, she also studied theology at Durham University, where she was a member of St John's College, graduating with a further BA in 1993.[3] She would later complete a postgraduate certificate in theology, also from Durham, in 2012.[4]

Ordained ministry

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Bullock was ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1993 (27 June), by Christopher Mayfield, Bishop of Manchester, at Manchester Cathedral,[6] and ordained priest the Petertide following (25 June 1994) by Colin Scott, Bishop of Hulme, at St Clement's, Urmston.[7]

From 1993 to 1998, she served her curacy at St Paul's Church, Kersal Moor, in the Diocese of Manchester.[5] After this she was Vocations Advisor for the Diocese of Manchester from 1998 to 2004, during which time she also served a parish in Moss Side. She was the Rector of Whalley Range from 2004 to 2013. She was Archdeacon of York from 2013 until her elevation to the Episcopate.[8]

She was consecrated a bishop on 3 July 2019,[9] by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at St Paul's Cathedral.[10] A service of welcome was held at Shrewsbury Abbey on 13 July 2019.[11]

Views

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In November 2023, she was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".[12]

Personal life

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In 1992, she married Peter Bullock.[4] Together they have one son.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Shrewsbury: 7 May 2019". Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street.
  2. ^ "Home".
  3. ^ a b "Bullock, Sarah Ruth". Who's Who. Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 24 July 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. ^ a b c d e "Shrewsbury, Area Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Sarah Ruth Bullock) (born 17 March 1964)". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Sarah Ruth Bullock". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6805. 16 July 1993. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. ^ "Petertide ordinations". Church Times. No. 6858. 22 July 1994. p. 5. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. ^ "Archdeacon of York to be Bishop of Shrewsbury". Diocese of York. 7 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.Diocese of York web-site
  9. ^ a b Bate, Peter (7 May 2019). "New Bishop of Shrewsbury announced". Diocese of Lichfield. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  10. ^ Bate, Peter (3 July 2019). "Bishop Sarah consecrated". Diocese of Lichfield. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Service held to welcome new Bishop of Shrewsbury". BBC News. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. ^ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops". Church Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Archdeacon of York
2013–2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Shrewsbury
2019–present
Incumbent