Incoming Bishop visits Dorset roots
Dean Stephen Lake is the new Bishop Designate of the Salisbury Diocese
Salisbury's Bishop Designate - the Diocese's 79th Bishop has been visiting church leaders in Dorset.
The incoming Bishop will be consecrated later this year.
The announcement yesterday was celebrated by visits to churches across the area the Diocese serves, including St. James Church in Poole.
The church is connected to local charity Routes to Roots, which is opening a new shelter for homeless people in an old church building in March this year. He also stopped at Poole Quay to visit his father (pictured above), who still lives locally.
During his visit Dean Stephen said:
"Here we are at Poole Quay where I grew up. It feels really special, not just because it's home but because it feels like God has been involved in this for a long time.
"It just feels as if this is what God wants to happen. I don't want to overplay that but I do want to be clear that this is a moment in time, and we can rejoice in it."
Stephen trained for ministry at Chichester Theological College and is returning to his roots with this appointment. He grew up in Poole, held his curacy at Sherborne Abbey with Castleton and Lillington and was ordained Priest in 1989.
He became Vicar of St Aldhelm’s, Branksome, Poole from 1992 and was additionally appointed Rural Dean of Poole in 2000. In 2001, Stephen was appointed Sub Dean of St Albans, and took up his current role as Dean of Gloucester in 2011.
Stephen is a Church Commissioner and Lead Dean for Safeguarding.
He is married to Carol, and they have three adult children.
Stephen set out his main priorities for when he becomes Bishop later this year.
"My main priority as we hopefully, prayerfully, come out of the COVID years that we can have a confident church serving it's communities. In particular for me, that our children and young people can be listened to because they've had such a tough time during all of this.
"Thirdly, that local community, local parishes, really matter. Many of the answers during COVID have been through the work of good people locally, and I want to celebrate that."
Acting Bishop of Salisbury and Bishop of Sherborne, the Rt Rev Karen Gorham, said:
"I am delighted that Stephen has accepted the invitation to be the 79th Bishop of Salisbury. Stephen brings significant creative gifts of leadership to the diocese at an important time in our life as we continue to encourage the local church to be the best that it can be, bringing hope to our local communities in sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
"Stephen knows the diocese from the past and understands the challenges and opportunities for both our urban and our rural contexts. Bishop Andrew and I are very much looking forward to working with Stephen and welcoming him and Carol into the diocese later in the year."
"Following this announcement, there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know Stephen as he plans to make some further visits into the diocese before his consecration. We anticipate that Stephen will be consecrated as Bishop sometime after Easter and will be enthroned in Salisbury Cathedral late in the summer."
Gillian Clarke, Chair of the House of Laity and a diocesan representative on the Crown Nominations Commission, said:
"I am delighted that Dean Stephen Lake is to be our new Bishop of Salisbury. During the discernment process he radiated warmth, good humour, and an engaging confidence that together, in our churches and communities, we can achieve great things.
"I was struck by his boldness, his vision, and his passion for sharing God's love with all people, everywhere. Stephen brings energy, experience, and a deep-rooted love of Salisbury diocese.
"I am excited and encouraged as we face the future, challenging and often uncertain, with such a caring and inspiring leader and pastor, who can enable and empower us to build and grow in confidence, hope and common purpose."