New Bishop of Woolwich returns to Borough High Street

He will succeed the Rt Revd Colin Buchanan and will be consecrated Bishop in Southwark Cathedral on Thursday 21 April.

The Bishop of Woolwich assists the Diocesan Bishop in the oversight and pastoral care of parishes in the northern part of the Diocese of Southwark.

Christopher Chessun, 48, who has an identical twin, has been the Archdeacon of Northolt in the Diocese of London,since 2001. Before becoming an Archdeacon he was Rector of St Dunstan and All Saints Stepney and was Area Dean of Tower Hamlets from 1997 to 2001. Prior to this he was Chaplain and Minor Canon at St Paul's Cathedral and London Episcopal Area Vocations Adviser.

His interests include history, music, travel and links with overseas churches.

Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler said: "Christopher Chessun has a great deal of experience of urban ministry and brings many skills with him to his new role. I am pleased to welcome him to the Southwark team and look forward to working with him."

The new bishop is no stranger to Borough High Street, where his new office will be: "Thirty years ago on leaving school I filled in the months before going to university working for a firm of solicitors in Borough High Street. A daily task involved carting over boxes of papers to file away in a cellar depository under Borough Market. In my lunch breaks I would often wander into the Cathedral especially when music recitals were underway. I shall be interested to note the differences working from my new office in Trinity House. I already know something of the vibrant, faith-enhancing role of the Cathedral at the heart of diocesan life."