Philip Mounstephen

Philip Ian Mounstephen (born 13 July 1959) is a British Anglican bishop and missionary; he has been the Bishop of Winchester since 2023, having been Bishop of Truro from November 2018 until 2023. He was previously the executive leader of the Church Mission Society (CMS); worked for the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS); and served in parish ministry in the Diocese of Oxford, the Diocese of Southwark and the Diocese in Europe.

The Right Reverend

Philip Mounstephen
Bishop of Winchester
Mounstephen in 2019
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Winchester
In office2023 – present
PredecessorTim Dakin
Other post(s)Executive leader, Church Mission Society (October 2012 – November 2018)
Bishop of Truro (2018–2023)
Orders
Ordination1988 (deacon)
1989 (priest)
Consecration30 November 2018
by Justin Welby
Personal details
Born (1959-07-13) 13 July 1959
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
Spouse
Ruth
​
(m. 1984)​
Children1
Alma mater

Early life and education

Mounstephen was born on 13 July 1959 in Crookham Village, Hampshire, England.[1] He was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, a private boarding school in Oxford, Oxfordshire.[1] He studied English literature at the University of Southampton, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1980.[2][3] He then underwent teacher training at Magdalen College, Oxford, completing his Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in 1981.[1]

In 1985, Mounstephen entered Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an Evangelical Anglican theological college, to train for ordained ministry.[2] During this time, he also studied theology at Magdalen College, Oxford, and he graduated with a further BA in 1987:[1] as per tradition, his BA was later promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree.[2] He also completed a Certificate in Theology (CTh) in 1988.[1]

Ordained ministry

Mounstephen was ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1988 (3 July) at St Mary's Church, Amersham[4] and ordained a priest the following Petertide (2 July 1989) at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford — both times by Simon Burrows, Bishop of Buckingham.[5] From 1988 to 1992, he served his curacy at St James Church, Gerrards Cross with St James' Church, Fulmer in the Diocese of Oxford.[2] From 1992 to 1998, he was Vicar of St James Church, West Streatham in the Diocese of Southwark.[1]

In 1998, Mounstephen joined the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) and served in a number of roles.[1] He was head of Pathfinders from 1998 to 2002;[1] director of the CY Network from 2001 to 2002;[2] head of ministry from 2002 to 2007;[1][2] and deputy general director from 2004 to 2007.[2]

In January 2007, Mounstephen returned to parish ministry as chaplain (the senior minister) of St Michael's Church, Paris.[3] During his time in Paris, he also served as a member of the diocesan synod of the Diocese in Europe.[6] He was a made a minor canon of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Gibraltar, in August 2012,[7][8] and he was collated as a "canon without stall" during a service at St Matthew's Church, Westminster, in October 2017.[9]

On 1 July 2012, it was announced that Mounstephen would be the next executive leader of the Church Mission Society (CMS) in succession to Tim Dakin.[10] He took up the post on 13 October 2012 during a commissioning service at St Aldate's Church, Oxford.[7][11]

Episcopal ministry

On 30 August 2018, it was announced that Mounstephen would be the next Bishop of Truro, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Truro.[12] He officially became bishop upon the confirmation – on 20 November 2018 at St-Mary-le-Bow – of his election;[13] he was consecrated a bishop[14][15] on 30 November at St Paul's Cathedral by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and was welcomed at Truro Cathedral on 12 January 2019.[16]

In July 2023, it was announced that Mounstephen would be the next Bishop of Winchester, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester,[17] and that he was to leave his post at Truro in autumn 2023.[18] He was translated (i.e. legally became Bishop of Winchester and not Bishop of Truro) at the confirmation of his election on 10 October 2023 at St Mary-le-Bow.[19]

Views

Mounstephen believes "passionately in the doctrine of marriage as we have received it" (i.e. one man and one woman for life).[20] In February 2023, he voted for the introduction of blessings for those in same-sex relationships.[21]

Personal life

In 1984, Mounstephen married Ruth Weston. Together they have one daughter.[1][7]

Selected works
  • Mounstephen, Philip; Martin, Kelly (2004). Body beautiful?: recapturing a vision for all-age church. Cambridge: Grove Books. ISBN 978-1851745739.
  • Mounstephen, Philip (2015). "Teapots and DNA: The Foundations of CMS". Intermission. 22.
  • Berry, Mark; Mounstephen, Philip (2017). The Forgotten Factor: Placing Community at the Heart of Mission. Cambridge: Grove Books. ISBN 978-1788270021.

References
  1. 'MOUNSTEPHEN, Rev. Canon Philip Ian', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 13 July 2017
  2. "Philip Ian Mounstephen". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. "Philip Mounstephen". LinkedIn. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6547. 5 August 1988. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via UK Press Online archives.
  5. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 6597. 21 July 1989. p. 15. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 2 September 2018 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. "The Revd Canon Philip Mounstephen to lead CMS". Eurobishop. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. "Executive leader: Philip Mounstephen". Church Mission Society. Archived from the original on 26 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  8. "Gibraltar in Europe Cathedral". Crockford's Clerical Directory. The Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. "Diocese appoints eight new Canons". Diocese in Europe. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. "Paris chaplain to take over reins of CMS". Diocese in Europe. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. "Church Mission Society commissions new leader". Anglican Communion News Service. Anglican Communion Office. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. "Queen appoints new Bishop of Truro". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  13. (Accessed 24 November 2018)
  14. "The new Bishop of Truro named by Downing Street". ITV News. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  15. "CMS leader to be the next Bishop of Truro". Church Times. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  16. "Date announced for service to welcome new Bishop of Truro". Truro Diocese. 16 November 2018.
  17. "Appointment of Bishop of Winchester". gov.uk. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 6 July 2023.
  18. "Bishop Philip to leave diocese". Diocese of Truro. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  19. "(section: Forthcoming Events)". St Mary-le-Bow. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  20. "Church of England moves forward with plans to bless same-sex couples". Christian Today. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  21. "How Church of England bishops voted same-sex blessings during General Synod - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis". Premier Christian News. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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