THE next deputy lead bishop for safeguarding within the Church of England is to be the Bishop of Tewkesbury, within the diocese of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Robert Springett.
An announcement on the C of E website on Tuesday said that he would deal with “liaison with diocesan bishops” on behalf of the National Safeguarding Steering Group. He may also be a member of the National Safeguarding Panel, the Theology of Safeguarding Group, and the Safeguarding Programme Board, and attend the House of Bishops.
Bishop Springett takes over from the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, whose three-year term is ending, and who can also be a member of the Anglican Communion Safe Church Commission. As a member of the House of Lords, she’s going to proceed each to co-chair the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities and to talk on behalf of the Church on human trafficking.
Bishop Springett said on Tuesday that he was looking forward to bringing his 30 years’ experience in parish ministry “to the duty of developing a strong and healthy safeguarding culture within the Church”.
He was ordained priest in 1990, served his title in Chelmsford diocese, where he remained in parish ministry until 2010, as incumbent, area dean, and an Hon. Canon of Chelmsford Cathedral. He was then appointed Archdeacon of Cheltenham, in Gloucester diocese, before his consecration in 2016.
In his latest post, Bishop Springett will work closely with each the lead bishop for safeguarding, the Bishop of Stepney, Dr Joanne Grenfell, and the opposite deputy lead, the Rt Revd Julie Conalty, who’s the Bishop of Birkenhead, in Chester diocese, and focuses on survivor engagement.
