THE Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has today (Mon 2 March) announced the appointment of the Rev Dr Amanda Bloor as the new Archdeacon of Cleveland.

Amanda is currently priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge, on the Isle of Wight and Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands in the Diocese of Portsmouth. Ordained in 2004, she has previously served as Chaplain and Diocesan Advisor in Women’s Ministry to the Bishop of Oxford, and as Area Director of Ordinands for Berkshire. She undertook Doctoral research in Clergy Wellbeing and has a keen interest in the flourishing of those engaged in ministry. She is also a chaplain to the Army Cadet Force. Amanda is married to Mark and has two grown-up daughters.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said: “I very much look forward to welcoming Amanda to the Diocese of York and especially to her new ministry in the Archdeaconry of Cleveland. As well as her experience in a bishop’s team, her research on clergy wellbeing stands her in good stead to support everyone whose work and calling is to serve others in Jesus’ name.”

The Revd Dr Amanda Bloor said: “It will be a real wrench to leave the Diocese of Portsmouth, my parish and the Diocesan Director of Ordinands’ team. I’ve made good friends and colleagues here and loved being part of the community in Bembridge. But I’m excited about the challenges ahead and responding to God’s call to move to the Archdeaconry of Cleveland.

“I’m excited to be moving to the Diocese of York and joining the team encouraging the vision to be Generous Churches, Making and Nurturing Disciples. I look forward to getting to know people and places so that I can join in with the many good things that God is doing amongst us.I want to support clergy in what can sometimes feel a lonely or challenging role; we have a message of hope to offer to a hurting world where many people are searching for meaning.”

The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, said: “Amanda’s appointment is great news for the Cleveland Archdeaconry and the Diocese of York. While with us in Bembridge, she has been an excellent parish priest and ably supported those, especially from the Isle of Wight, discerning a possible call to licensed or further ministry. We shall miss her and her gifts, and Mark as well, but rejoice that the wider church benefits from her leadership as we seek across the nation to call more people to love Jesus and to grow the church to build the Kingdom.”

And the Bishop of Whitby, Paul Ferguson said: “Amanda is a disciple and leader with special abilities and experience. I warmly look forward to welcoming her in her ministry as Archdeacon of Cleveland”.

Amanda will be collated as Archdeacon of Cleveland at Bishopthorpe Palace on 22 April 2020. She succeeds the Venerable Samantha Rushton, who became the Archdeacon of York in August 2019.