London Vicar to be Bishop of Aston

03/09/08

Downing Street has announced that Andrew Watson, Vicar of St Stephen's Twickenham, is to be the next Bishop of Aston in the Diocese of Birmingham.

Andrew said of the appointment:

"It is a great privilege to have been chosen to serve as the next Bishop of Aston. I know there are many exciting challenges ahead. The Church needs to grow and I look forward to working with Bishop David and all the parishes in Birmingham and its districts in encouraging an ethos of encouragement, trust and prayerful risk-taking in both congregations and local communities.

"I am very pleased to be moving to Birmingham and to becoming part of a forward-looking, international city at a very important time in its history. I look forward to being part of a diocese which is positioned so strategically for God's mission in the 21st century."

In a letter to his Diocese, the Bishop of London said:

"I am personally very grateful for what Andrew has contributed as a member of Bishop’s Council and most especially of the Bishop of London’s Mission Fund.

"We shall miss him but send him to Birmingham confident that he will make a great contribution in the field of developing vision and strategy for church growth for leadership."

"He is to be consecrated in St Paul’s Cathedral on the 28th October and I hope that his many friends in the Diocese will be present on that occasion to wish him, and Bev and the family, God’s speed for future ministry in Birmingham."