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On May 7, 2019, the Diocese of London and the the Rt. Rev. and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, announced that the Venerable Joanne Woolway Grenfell, currently Archdeacon of Portsdown, Diocese of Portsmouth will be the next Bishop of Stepney, an area covering the boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets.  Joanne will formally take up her post in September 2019 and her consecration is scheduled for July.

Now, one may ask, “what is Archdeacon Woolway Grenfell’s connection to the Diocese of New Westminster?”

Joanne was a member of Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver and sang in the choir 1993-94. She was in Vancouver at UBC pursuing an M.A. and one of her instructors was long time CCC parishioner and liturgical assistant, Pamela Daziel.  Pamela and Joanne became good friends. Pamela introduced her to CCC. They have continued their friendship (Pamela was Maid of Honour at her wedding, to the Reverend James's Grenfell and Godmother to their two eldest children) and Pamela was kind enough to share the information about Joanne’s appointment with diocesan comms.

Here is a link to the story about her appointment on the Diocese of London’s website.

Here is an excellent Facebook photo album from the Diocese of Portsmouth chronicling Joanne’s and James’ visit to the parishes of Stepney

Here is a link to a piece about the appointment in The Docklands and East London Advertiser. In her email to diocesan comms, Pamela said “I quite like this East London Advertiser piece, in spite of the typos and garbled quotations.  (There is also some misinformation: e.g., Joanne and James were married before they went to Westcott House).

IMAGES

  • The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, leads the applause for the newly-announced Bishop of Stepney
  • Joanne and James Grenfell outside St John's, Hackney
  • Great Group shot during the visit to the Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum