The Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, is to swap his diocesan mitre for a parish post in Folkestone. Dr Warner, who has served as the Bishop of Chichester since 2012, is stepping down from his see and will take up a part-time two-year role as the parish priest of St Peter’s, Folkestone.
The announcement was made to his parishioners during Sunday service on April 26. Dr Warner, 67, will officially retire from his senior post in Sussex on May 31. After a short summer break, he will begin his new parochial duties within the Diocese of Canterbury. The news has been met with delight at the Durlocks-based church. A spokesman for the Parish of St Peter’s said the appointment follows a period of prayerful waiting for a new leader.
They said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Dr Martin Warner to our parish family. To have someone with his depth of experience and spiritual wisdom choose to serve here in Folkestone is a wonderful blessing. St Peter’s has always been a place of seafaring heritage and community heart, and we believe the Bishop’s background – particularly his love for the arts and his pastoral warmth – makes him the perfect fit for our next chapter.”
Dr Warner brings an extensive resume to the Folkestone altar. Originally ordained in Exeter in the mid-1980s, his career has taken him from the urban parishes of Plymouth and Leicester to the historic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, where he served as Priest Administrator for nearly a decade. Before his elevation to the Bishopric, Dr Warner was a residentiary Canon at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. During his time there, he became a well-known figure in the art world, serving as Canon Pastor and Treasurer, and strengthening the Cathedral’s ties with contemporary artists.
Having served as the Suffragan Bishop of Whitby in North Yorkshire before his translation to Chichester, Dr Warner is no stranger to “contrasting communities” – from the industrial landscape of Middlesbrough to the rural moors. However, his move to St Peter’s represents a shift away from the administrative demands of running a large diocese and a return to the direct service of a local congregation. Local churchgoers are expected to officially welcome him during an induction service later this summer.
