Diocese of Southwark makes history and appoints its first female bishop

The Diocese of Southwark has a new bishop. On 3rd May 2022, Downing Street announced that Her Majesty The Queen had approved the appointment of the Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Archdeacon of Croydon, as Bishop of Croydon, succeeding the Rt Rev Jonathan Clark, who left the Diocese in March. Bishop Rosemarie is the first female bishop in the Diocese and the second Barbadian Bishop of Croydon - the first being the Rt Rev Wilfred Wood, who served as bishop from 1985 to 2003. He was the first Black bishop in the Church of England.

Speaking on the day of the announcement, she said, “I am thankful to God for the honour and privilege of serving as the next Bishop of Croydon. I love the diversity of this area geographically, ethnically and culturally. I will serve the Episcopal Area of Croydon and East Surrey and the people with great pride, and do my very best to make God’s Word and His love known, while championing social justice causes across the area for people of all ages.”

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, added, “I am very grateful to all those who have worked with me to ensure that the appointment of the next Bishop of Croydon has gone forward swiftly. I am delighted that the Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett will be joining the Episcopal Team as Bishop for the gloriously diverse Croydon Episcopal Area which stretches well beyond the M25. It has been a joy to see Rosemarie flourish as Archdeacon of Croydon with her passion for building community cohesion as well as championing racial and social justice. I have asked her to continue to focus on these as a bishop, confident that Rosemarie will be a great blessing to the parishes and people of the Croydon Episcopal Area and wider Diocese.”

The Diocese of Southwark serves 2.8 million people in the 16 Local Authorities of South London and East Surrey through 356 places of worship and 104 church schools, educating over 37,000 young people. The Croydon Episcopal Area is one of three areas in the Diocese (the others being Kingston and Woolwich). It covers the boroughs of Croydon, Sutton and the district of Tandridge, the vast majority of Reigate and Banstead district, and parts of the borough of Bromley and Mole Valley District. It stretches from Upper Norwood in the north to Gatwick in the south, and from West Wickham in the east to Worcester Park in the west.

The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, said, “I am absolutely delighted to offer, on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, hearty congratulations to the Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett on her appointment as Bishop of Croydon. Whenever a Barbadian excels anywhere in this world it brings joy to us all, and the fact that Bishop Mallett, the first woman to hold this high office, is following in the footsteps of another Barbadian, the Right Reverend Wilfred Wood, who distinguished himself as the first Black Bishop of Croydon, makes this latest achievement even more commendable.”

Bishop Rosemarie was consecrated on Friday 24th June, at Southwark Cathedral which was decorated with flowers reflecting her Caribbean roots. During Communion, singer and theatre actress, Rachel John, sang a medley of well-known hymns and gospel songs.

The service was attended by family, friends and parishioners from the Diocese and across the country, including clergy, bishops, and local and international dignitaries.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, tweeted, “The grace and goodness of God was so visible at Rosemarie Mallett’s consecration as Bishop of Croydon at Southwark Cathedral today. Praying for Bishop Rosemarie and the wonderful communities she serves.”

“The service was spiritually uplifting and joy-filled. I feel completely humbled and privileged to be called to serve God as a bishop in His Church and to lead His people as we work to build the Kingdom in Croydon and everywhere. I am looking forward to getting to know more of the churches and church schools and para-church projects in the whole Episcopal Area, and to offer my support to their mission and ministry,” said Bishop Rosemarie.

In a moving and powerful sermon, the Rev Prebendary Sandra McCalla, Chaplain to the Bishop of London, said, “Today, you answer this onerous yet joyful call to serve not just you but the whole body of witnesses, including those who have travelled across seas and continents to come and see what the Lord has done.”

She continued, “Those who have been excluded, maligned, ignored and underestimated, and those who have had to jump through every hoop that others have not. Those who were denied the right to an education. Enslaved, whipped and beaten. Torn from their homelands and people, and yet they are here within the heavenly cloud of witnesses to say ‘Lord, Your chief pastors and shepherds are beginning to reflect the flock they serve. Your Church is becoming truly what You intend it to be - a house of prayer.”

Finally, she charged Bishop Rosemarie saying, “So soldier on my sister, and be the person God has created you to be in this space and at this time. You were called for a time like this and, in that calling, God called you just as you are, with all your characteristics, for He knows what He wishes His Kingdom on earth to look like.”

Bishop Rosemarie has been in post for two months. How has it been so far? “I’m yet to stop and think, there has been so much to get on with. There have been the joys of ordination services and of ordaining three new priests in the area; the day-to-day responsibilities of episcopal oversight; listening to the issues that arise for priests and people of the area and helping to hold these with the archdeacons; engaging with local faith and civic groups - some new - and continuing working on building and deepening relationships between them and the Anglican Church; and now attending the Lambeth Conference with over 650 other Anglican bishops with the opportunity to listen to stories of similarity and difference, and to build friendships and relationships across continents and cultures as we work to be part of God’s Church for God’s world,” she said.

Born in Barbados, Bishop Rosemarie grew up in the UK and was educated at Sussex University and Warwick University. Prior to ordination, she was a research sociologist and academic, specialising in international development and ethno-cultural mental health. She has lived and worked in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Barbados. She trained for ministry at the South East Institute of Theological Education (SEITE) and served her curacy at Christ Church, Brixton Road. She was ordained a priest in 2005.

She served as Priest-in-Charge at St John the Evangelist, Angell Town, from 2007 and was appointed Vicar in 2013, as well as being made Director of Ordinands for the Kingston Episcopal Area. In 2015, she was additionally appointed Diocesan Director of Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation. She served on General Synod from 2011 to 2021.

Bishop Rosemarie is the Diocesan lead on Racial Justice and authored the Diocese of Southwark’s Anti-Racism Charter, which was unanimously approved by the Diocesan Synod in March 2021. She regularly appears on BBC Radio Four’s Prayer for the Day and has led The Daily Service on BBC Radio Four. She is a spokesperson on racial and social justice issues nationally.

For more than 20 years, she has served as Trustee and Director of a number of social action charities across London, all focusing on building community cohesion. She served as Equalities Commissioner for five years in Lambeth, and currently acts as adviser to a Croydon community action project, which is focused on reducing serious youth violence.

Bishop Rosemarie has one daughter, Jane, and enjoys baking and walking. She loves jazz music and going to the theatre.

Future plans include to “…stop and take some rest, and then return to continue discerning how best I can serve the people and churches of the area. One way to do that will be through hospitality, and I am hoping that, despite COVID, I will be able to use my convening abilities to bring together people from across the different groups and communities in the Episcopal Area, all with a focus on how we can jointly serve the Area,” she said.

The consecration service was recorded and can be watched here: https://www.

youtube.com/watch?v=f3IwgP4BYlw

By Sophia Jones, Director of Communications – Diocese of Southwark