Last updated 20th June 2024

Bishop's House Team

Bishop’s House is the home of the Diocesan Bishop of Blackburn and also the base of their office and staff.

The Bishop is directly supported by the Bishop's Chaplain, the Rev Sam Cheesman. As well as being office manager at Bishop’s House, Sam's role is to make sure the Bishop and wider Diocesan team have all they need, he is a resource to the wider Diocese and can be contacted with questions or for support in parishes.

Louise Hunter and Esther Tregilgas are the administrative heart of the team and they are the Bishop’s EA and Operations Officer respectively. They can be contacted to book appointments, check diaries and assist with any administrative questions you might have. Susan Stewart joined the team in the new role of Clergy Appointments Officer assisting our churches which are in vacancy. 

The gardens at Bishop’s House are beautifully tended by Keith, who has worked there for 16 years and makes Bishop’s House a beautiful place to entertain and welcome people. If you are in need of cooking or eating apples come and see Keith between September and November and he will be glad to send you away with a large bag.

Everyone is always welcome at Bishop’s House and we can be contacted using 01254 248234.

You can also contact members of the team directly using details found in their short bios which explain more clearly the roles each member of the team has.

Rev Sam Cheesman

Bishop's Chaplain

Sam has been Bishop’s Chaplain since 2019. Before that he was serving his title curacy in Anchorsholme All Saints, but he has been in the Diocese for over a decade now as he moved to Lancaster to be the Chaplain at our largest Church of England Secondary School, Ripley St Thomas.

He is married to Mairi who works in the local school as a Teaching Assistant and has one daughter who loves swimming, horse-riding and Lego friends.

The role of Bishop’s Chaplain varies from Diocese to Diocese but in Blackburn Sam sees his role as ‘keeping the wheels turning’ however he can. He seeks to do this by serving the Vision and Strategy Team as well as the parish clergy and chaplains in the diocese wherever possible. As well as offering direct support to the Bishops, Sam can be contacted to ask the questions no one is quite sure how to answer.

He doesn’t pretend to know all the answers but he usually knows where to look or who to ask. Sam line manages the excellent Bishop’s House team who are part of the larger administration machine of the diocese - the real unsung heroes of the Anglican Church in Lancashire in so many ways.

In his role as Diocesan Link officer and Chair of the Link Committee, Sam seeks every opportunity to promote the relationship between our own diocese and the Diocese of the Free State in South Africa. Sam has maintained his passion for schools chaplaincy and loves to identify and grow young leaders where possible.

He plays rugby for Clitheroe Rugby club every Saturday during the season and when not working enjoys exploring God’s beautiful world both home and abroad with his family and dog. He has walked the Camino to Santiago and part of the Via Francigina to Rome in recent years and is looking out for the next pilgrimage when time allows.

Sam works Monday to Friday in the Bishop’s House office and can be found covering in different parishes on a Sunday. He is available to cover for occasional offices as well if needed.

You can contact Sam on:

Tel: 01254 248234

Mobile: 07393 879107

Email: chaplain@bishopofblackburn.org.uk

Louise Hunter

Executive Assistant to The Rt Rev Philip North

Louise joined the Diocese in 2012 as the Bishop of Burnley's PA. She has now moved to the role of EA to the Bishop of Blackburn and so continues to support Bishop Philip in his ministry. 

Louise's day to day role includes managing Bishop Philip’s diary and emails, supporting him at meetings including the Vision and Strategy Team meetings, plus anything else Bishop Philip throws her way!

Louise is keen to raise the profile of our wonderful parish administrators around the Diocese by supporting and encouraging them in their work. Louise oversees the ALM Administration elective alongside Abi Saunders and hosts networking events for our parish administrators throughout the year. 

Louise and her family are members of St Andrew’s Church in Leyland where she is involved in music & women's ministry.

Louise can be contacted:

Tel: 01254 248234 

Mobile: 07842 244473

Email: louise.hunter@blackburn.anglican.org

Monday-Friday 9.00am-4.30pm

Esther Tregilgas

Operations for the Bishop of Blackburn

Esther joined the team in 2021 and enjoys the challenges that each day brings at Bishop's House and the fact that no two days are the same. 

Esther's role involves a wide variety of comms, events planning and admin, DBS, PTO, new appointments, confirmations, clergy annual reviews and ordinations.

Esther is married to Matt and they have four daughters, in her spare time she loves being near, in, or on the water - especially wild swimming and paddleboarding. 

Esther can be contacted on:

Tel: 01254 248234

Mobile: 07842 244470

Email: bhadmin@bishopofblackburn.org.uk

Monday - Friday 9.30am-2.30pm

Susan Stewart

Bishop's Appointments Secretary

Susan is the newest member of the team at Bishops House.  Joining us at the start of 2023 as Clergy Appointments Officer.  Susan has been tasked with reviewing and streamlining our processes to appoint clergy in the Diocese to ensure that it is a good experience for all involved. 

Susan liaises with all involved in parish vacancies to ensure that they know what’s required of them and when.  She is married to Gregor and has two teenage children and three dogs. 

Susan can be contacted on:

Tel: 01254 248234

Mob: 07731 997113

Email: appointments@bishopofblackburn.org.uk

Working hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Keith Thompson

Gardener at Bishop's House

Keith has been gardener at Bishop's House since March 2006. He works hard to make the garden here a beautiful and functional space.

Keith lives in Salebury and is a very active member of the community serving on the Parish Council, being a trustee for The Memorial Hall and doing voluntary work with Wilpshire Wanders FC and Salesbury FC.

In his spare time Keith enjoys fellrunning and playing in a couple of local bands (both of which he claims to do badly)! 

June 2024