From January 2026, the Diocese enters a Vacancy in See as Bishop Sarah Mullally becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. This is an update on how the Diocese is planning for smooth leadership and pastoral care during this time of transition.
From the end of January 2026, when the Confirmation of Election takes place and Bishop Sarah becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, the Vacancy in See begins. A new Bishop of London is likely to be announced in late 2026 and take up the role around the middle of 2027.
There is a significant workload to be carried during the vacancy.
As already announced, Bishop Emma will be Acting Bishop of London and Acting Area Bishop for the Two Cities, as well as continuing in her role as Bishop of Kensington. Without support this would be an unmanageable workload. The operational load in the five Episcopal Areas relates to the pastoral care of the clergy, safeguarding responsibilities, sponsoring candidates going forward for training (of which there are a significant number in the Two Cities and Kensington), careful attention to recruitment and support for both licensed and retired clergy changing roles and a multitude of other tasks giving leadership and practical support to each Area team.
For the duration of the episcopal vacancy in the Stepney Area, the Rt Rev Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne, has taken up the invitation to be Acting Bishop of Stepney. She will divide her time between Dorset and London from January through to the end of April 2026, working closely with the Stepney Area Team, as well as the London College of Bishops.
Bishop Karen has been Bishop of Sherborne, in the Salisbury Diocese, for almost ten years, and served as the Acting Bishop of Salisbury, following the Rt Rev Nick Holtam’s retirement.
Bishop Lusa and Bishop Anderson will work collegially alongside Bishop Emma, whilst continuing to carry heavy workload in their own episcopal Areas and across the Diocese and the Church of England. The assistant bishops in the Diocese, too, will play a valuable part, but there is a greater need than can be met in this way.
Therefore, the Bishop of Fulham, who is already a suffragan bishop in the Diocese, has agreed to support Bishop Emma in The Two Cities where he will, for example, chair Area Staff and Area Council meetings, meet regularly with the archdeacons, and take responsibility for CCSLs, appointments and licensings.
During the vacancy, please continue to direct all enquiries relating to Two Cities’ matters to the relevant person at The Old Deanery, whether in the Bishop of London’s Office or the Archdeaconry Office. This will be essential to the efficient co-ordination of the bishops’ shared workload. Please resist contacting the Kensington or Fulham offices direct with Two Cities matters, or confusion may reign!
Our priority in all of this is to ensure the smooth running of the Diocese and the Areas, for the sake of the wellbeing of the clergy, parishes and chaplaincies and the continued development of the church’s mission. Please join us in supporting all of the bishops in prayer as they take on these additional roles.