The Prime Minister’s Office has announced this morning that His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of the Vicar of Lancaster Priory, Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders, as the next Bishop of Doncaster.

Rev Leah has been at the Priory for four years - the first woman to hold the role of Vicar there. Before that she served as Canon Precentor at Wakefield Cathedral and held parish roles in the dioceses of Southwell and Nottingham, Lichfield, and Newcastle.

Reacting to the news today the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Philip North, said he was ‘thrilled’ for Leah adding ‘she goes with our love and prayers that her ministry will ignite many lights for Christ’.

Ordained in 2003, Leah trained at Cranmer Hall, Durham.

Leah has recorded a special message for people across her current Diocese of Blackburn which is available to view now here on YouTube and across our social channels.

As Bishop of Doncaster, Leah will serve the people of the Diocese of Sheffield. There was a special event there today at St Paul’s, Wheatley Park, to coincide with the moment the news was revealed by Downing Street. It will be followed by a series of engagements across the Diocese across the remainder of the day.

Leah said today: “It is a humbling and joyful thing to be called as the next Bishop of Doncaster. I feel deeply privileged to be joining the Diocese of Sheffield. This new call also comes with some sadness, as I prepare to leave Lancaster Priory and the Diocese of Blackburn.

“Over the past four years, my family and I have loved living and worshipping in Lancaster. I have had the privilege of being the first female Vicar of Lancaster.

“Particular highlights have included seeing our congregation grow younger and more diverse, witnessing the flourishing of new vocations to lay and ordained ministry and leading the challenging but vital work of beginning to address the historic legacy of transatlantic slavery through the Facing the Past project.

“I have greatly valued my time here, working alongside supportive senior colleagues and within a brilliant deanery and archdeaconry that reflects the full breadth of our traditions. This season of ministry has deepened my love for Jesus’ Church.

“I arrived in Lancaster in 2021, responding to a clear sense of God’s call to the Diocese of Blackburn. Now I move into this next season with the same confidence that God is calling me to serve as Bishop of Doncaster.

“My prayer for the future is that the Priory parish - and the whole Diocese - will know God’s blessing as they continue faithfully to respond to his call in Lancashire.”

• You can watch a recording here of the livestream announcement in Sheffield Diocese this morning.

A lifelong musician, Leah studied music at university, where her faith journey and call to ministry began. She is also Chair of On Fire Mission promoting charismatic and Catholic renewal in the Church of England.

Leah is married to Rev Dr Mark Vasey-Saunders and they have four children together. Mark is part of the senior leadership and academic team at St Hild Theological College in Sheffield.

Speaking in the wake of the announcement this morning, Bishop Philip commented: “We are thrilled by the appointment of Leah Vasey-Saunders as the Bishop of Doncaster.

"She is a mission-hearted, creative, imaginative priest with strategic leadership gifts and someone who delights in calling out vocations. "Her husband Mark brings a remarkable teaching and writing ability and we are pleased he can continue to flourish as Centre Head at St Hild’s Sheffield.

"They and the family will be a loss to us in Lancashire where Leah has served as Vicar of Lancaster and Chair of On Fire Mission. She goes with our love and prayers that her ministry will ignite many lights for Christ in Sheffield Diocese."

Captions for above photos, top to bottom:

• Rev Leah Vasey-Saunders – the next Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield
• The scene today at St Paul’s, Wheatley Park as Rev. Leah Vasey-Saunders is introduced by  Rt Rev. Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield as the next Bishop of Doncaster. 
• Rev. Leah Vasey-Saunders speaking as the next Bishop of Doncaster.

 Ronnie Semley, May 2025