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Next Bishop of Sheffield announced

21 October 2008

 

No.10 Downing Street announces today the appointment of the Revd Dr Steven John Lindsey Croft, currently Archbishops' Missioner and Leader of the Fresh Expressions team, as the next Bishop of Sheffield.

Dr Croft, 51, succeeds Bishop Jack Nicholls, who retired earlier this year.

As Bishop of Sheffield, Dr. Croft will have oversight over the Church of England parishes in South Yorkshire and including parts of the East Riding near Goole.

Dr. Croft will be consecrated as bishop by the Archbishop of York in the New Year and is expected to be enthroned in Sheffield Cathedral in the spring.

Steven is married to Ann and they have four grown up children, Paul (24), Andrew (22), Amy (20) and Sarah (18).

A summary of the Bishop-designate’s ministry so far is summarised below. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said this morning: “I am delighted about this significant appointment, and I wish Steve every blessing for his ministry in Sheffield. The Archbishop of York, Dr.John Sentamu, in a joint statement with Dr Williams said: “The outstanding work he has done as Archbishops' Missioner over the last four years has put the Fresh Expressions initiative very firmly on the map”.

The Bishop of Doncaster, Cyril Ashton, today welcomed the appointment on behalf of the Diocese of Sheffield: "The waiting is over. The prayerful process has produced a man of deep faith and commitment who I am sure will lead the Diocese through its next stage of outreach and mission with real vigour and enthusiasm".

Dr. Croft, in Sheffield, said today: “I am honoured to be invited to become Bishop of Sheffield and to follow in the footsteps of Bishop Jack Nicholls.  Ann and I are looking forward enormously to moving back to Yorkshire.  I will have a great deal to learn about South Yorkshire, about the life of the church here and about being a bishop. 

He added: “I intend to spend my first months in the diocese listening to what is happening in the many different communities [of Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Goole and Barnsley and everything in between].  I’ll be spending time getting to know clergy and parishes but also, I hope, working alongside different people in the community to see South Yorkshire from different points of view.

Bishop Jack Nicholls said that he was delighted to hear that Steven Croft would succeed him at Sheffield: “I have worked with Steve quite a bit over recent years and am truly delighted to hear the news. He is a listener who acts on what he believes to be right and I am sure that he and Ann will be warmly welcomed right across the Diocese.”

Sir Christopher Wates, Chairman of the Board of Fresh Expressions, said this morning: “Steve has been an outstanding initiator of ideas and projects and it is absolutely no surprise to me that he should be appointed to such a senior post.

Canon Gordon Taylor, Vicar of Tickhill with Stainton, and Chair of the House of Clergy, said today: “I am delighted to hear news of the next Bishop of Sheffield, Steven Croft, with his wide experience of the life of the Church of England and his passion for Gospel, church and community.  I am sure he will continue to build on the ministry of Bishop Jack Nicholls.”

He added: “We continue to look forward to the enlivening of the church in this part of the world and it’s a bonus that he’s a Yorkshire man!”

The new Bishop’s interests include walking, cooking and films.