Introducing our next Bishop of Burnley

A priest who has broad experience of both chaplaincy and teaching, as well as in the ministering and leading of others to help God’s church to grow, has been chosen as the next Suffragan Bishop of Burnley.

Edinburgh-born Rev. Dr Joseph Kennedy, 55, is currently Vicar of Oxton St Saviour in the Diocese of Chester.

He was educated at Edinburgh University (Mathematics and Theology) and then  Oxford University where he trained for ordination; later beginning his ministry in Oxford Diocese.

The Bishop-designate is married to Emily who is Head of External Financial Reporting for Oxfam and they have two children: David, 13 and Mary, 7.

(Full biography at end of this story.)

Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn, made the appointment following consultation with a representative group of people from the Diocese. 

It was approved by His Majesty The King and posted to the Downing Street website at 10am today.

Joe succeeds Bishop Philip himself, who was his immediate predecessor as Bishop of Burnley.

The date of Joe’s Consecration Service later this year at York Minster will be Friday, July 19 at 11am. This will be followed by his ‘Installation Service’ on Sunday, September 8 at 4pm in the presence of civic, faith and community leaders from across Lancashire at our Cathedral in Blackburn.

The new Bishop of Burnley-designate was introduced today by Bishop Philip at Burnley Faith Centre. 

Joining them were fellow episcopal colleague, Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, the Suffragan Bishop of Lancaster; all members of Bishop Philip’s Vision and Strategy Team; invited civic, faith and community leaders and choir members from St Peter's CofE Primary School.

Bishop Philip said: “I am delighted to welcome Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy as our next Bishop of Burnley. He has overseen a period of significant congregational growth in his current Parish and loves to see lives changed by the Gospel.

“The advisory panel that met to interview candidates for the post was an extremely diverse one in which all traditions were well represented. The unity of mind that this group reached was extraordinary and it was incredibly beautiful to discern together a deep sense that Joe was the one whom God was calling.

“Joe brings experience and expertise in parish renewal and in starting new local congregations which will feed into his role in leading across the Diocese and overseeing the ‘Being Witnesses’ portfolio – part of our Vision 2026 work. Joe also has experience of theological education.

Bishop Philip continued: “At interview it was the integrity of his faith that struck us all and he will bring to the diocese a profound and life-changing trust in Jesus Christ; a sincere commitment to mutual flourishing and huge gifts in preaching and teaching.

“Please now be praying for Joe and his family as they prepare for this huge upheaval in their lives.”

Meanwhile, in his first remarks, Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy said: “I am delighted and humbled to be announced today as the next Bishop of Burnley, and to be joining Bishop Philip’s team later in the year. My family are thrilled to be coming here to Lancashire and to the Diocese of Blackburn.

“As I look to the future, my hope is to offer you a ministry which is confident in God, rooted in prayer, focused on pastoral care and on mission; and which offers a focus for unity across the diocese.

“Across Lancashire, and across the Diocese, there is such a rich variety of experience: urban and rural areas and their parishes, post-industrial towns and coastal regions, schools and chaplaincies, coupled with the diversity of traditions in the Church of England – different ways of worshipping, of serving communities, and of seeing things.

“My heart sings too as I anticipate the opportunity to begin to work with colleagues across the whole diocese as we continue to implement Vision 2026 together and look to the future – supporting healthy churches, transforming communities.”

In his new role, Joe will have particular responsibility for the ‘Being Witnesses’ strand of the Vision 2026 work. In this context he continued: “In so many communities across Lancashire, we can see Christians sharing the Gospel with confidence and enabling human flourishing through social action.

“And it’s so encouraging to see also, as part of this, new ventures in urban areas; in strategic church plants and in hundreds of new local congregations; and so much good work too in caring for God’s creation, and in parish renewal.

“These are transformational tasks … they are all about coming to Christ and bringing others to Christ. It is in Christ’s company, in sharing his life, that we shall find light and life.”

Read the full text of both Bishop Philip's introduction and Joe's response here on our website. 

Later this morning, Joe will travel to the region’s Anglican Cathedral in Blackburn where he will be welcomed by the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev. Peter Howell-Jones and members of the Cathedral Chapter. Also in attendance at the Cathedral will be staff from the Diocesan Offices, which is located on the edge of Blackburn.

Joe will be introduced to parishes and schools across Lancashire via a livestreamed interview conducted by Bishop Philip and Bishop Jill and all available here via the Cathedral’s YouTube channel with formal proceedings beginning at 11.45am. 

Meanwhile, this afternoon, Joe will visit an Forest Church at Balderstone St Leonard’s CofE Primary school, accompanied by our Being Witnesses Manager,  Joy Rushton.

Greeting the news today, The Most Rev. and Right Hon. Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, said: "I am delighted that HM The King has appointed Dr Joseph Kennedy as the Suffragan Bishop of Burnley. 

“Joe joins the Diocese of Blackburn at an exciting time and brings expertise in chaplaincy and teaching, and in ministering alongside others to help God’s Church to grow. I very much look forward to Joe’s consecration and his ministry with us in the north."

Today's announcement is also on the Archbishop’s own website here.

Contact Joe's PA Abi Saunders on:

pa.burnley@blackburn.anglican.org

07939187452

Following events on social media and online

• Watch a livestreamed interview with the new Bishop of Burnley-Designate from 11.30am available here via the Cathedral’s YouTube channel and as a recording permanently afterwards. 
• Other coverage will be available on the Diocesan Twitter/X and Facebook pages as well as on the Board of Education social channels. See top right of this page for all the links you need for the DBE socials. 
• Keep following coverage too on this website's news pages throughout today and in the coming days. 
• In addition, bespoke video messages from the Bishop of Burnley-designate for the Diocese will be added to our social channels at 1pm (a message for people worshipping in our parishes) and 2pm (for schools). Pictures from across the announcement day will also be available to view soon in an album on our Diocesan flickr page.
• Finally, clergy, lay leaders, other office-holders and anyone else in our parishes who subscribes to our popular 'Parish Update' ebulletin will receive a special edition  wrapping up the day's events late afternoon/early evening of March 22. Look out for it and subscribe here if you don't get it already and you want to receive it. 

Media coverage of the announcement 

Already there has been a huge amount of media interest and coverage of today's announcement ... with more still to come.
Here are some of the highlights so far ...

• The BBC website featured the news as soon as Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy was announced. 
• Later in the day of the announcement an interview with Joe was airing on all news bulletins on BBC Radio Lancashire with a longer version of the interview here (listen from 3h 37m 15s). Then on the following Sunday BBC Radio Lancashire's Sunday religious affairs programme featured an interview with Joe (listen from 2h 47m 35s). 
• The Archbishop of York welcomed the announcement and featured coverage on his own website; and the news also featured on the national Church of England website. 
• Christian media on the news included Premier Christian Radio and Church Times.
• Further stories followed in the local press, including the Lancashire Telegraph (website and newspaper) and Lancashire Post as well as the Burnley Express (also website and newspaper); the Lancs Live website and the 'In Your Area' website. 

Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy; Biography

2011-present

Vicar of Oxton St Saviour in the Diocese of Chester – a large parish of more than 16,000 people, encompassing suburban and estate housing. His ministry has focussed on: overseeing work to transform the church’s ministry to children, young people, and families; building diverse teams of ministers from a wide range of church traditions and with different passions and gifts, all focused on a common purpose: building a strategic focus on mission, and aligning limited resources to this work.

Also during this period:

2021 – present Rural Dean of Birkenhead 10 parishes, with widely different church traditions, from SCP to Reform.

2020 – present Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands, Diocese of Chester

Discernment work with prospective ordinands.

2015 – 2020:   Lecturer and Tutor, St Mellitus College NW

Taught missiology, apologetics, systematic theology to ordinands and independent students (including ministers from a range of denominations).

2008 – 2011    Principal, College of the Resurrection, Mirfield

Overall responsibility for the College’s spiritual life, for the formation of ordinands, and for the pastoral care of students. Line managed academic and senior administrative staff, and led strategic planning, budget planning, and external promotion. Taught theology and missiology.

2005 – 2008    Higher Education Chaplaincy

Dean of Chapel, Chaplain, and Fellow, Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Chaplain and Senior Member, Newnham College, Cambridge. Responsible for the worship and life of Selwyn College Chapel. Offered pastoral care to students, Fellows and staff in two constituent colleges of Cambridge University. Tutor in theology for Selwyn and Magdalene Colleges.

2002 – 2005    Assistant Curate, Diocese of Oxford 2002 – 2003, Mortimer; 2003 – 2005, Abingdon. Ministerial experience in rural, suburban, and estate settings.

Ordained Deacon in Oxford Diocese: 2002

Ordained Priest in Oxford Diocese: 2003

Educated at Edinburgh and Oxford. Completed degrees in mathematics and in theology at Edinburgh University, and served for five years as an assistant warden in student Halls of Residence. Also gained qualified teacher status before going to Oxford where he trained for the ordained ministry and gained a master’s degree and doctorate in theology.

Joe met his wife Emily at Oxford University. She was studying for a degree in Classics while he was training for ordination. Married 2001. Two children: David (aged 13); Mary aged 7. Emily is a Chartered Accountant, who works as Head of External Financial Reporting for Oxfam.

Ronnie Semley, March 2024