The Bishop of Chichester seeks to appoint an experienced, inspiring and liturgically confident leader as the next Archdeacon of Chichester; a priest who is gifted in pastoral and prayerful ministry and who will foster unity across the spectrum of traditions and support the mission of the diocese as together we seek to ‘know, love, and follow Jesus.’

We are praying for an Archdeacon who will:

• Be a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ with a devotion to the kingdom of God and the health of the Church, who can inspire people within and beyond the household of faith
• Share closely with the Bishops in the pastoral care of clergy, lay leaders, congregations and schools
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Bishop’s staff and diocesan team
• Encourage and engage with clergy, laity, and schools across the archdeaconry
• Fulfil all the statutory functions of an Archdeacon

The Archdeacon of Chichester will need to be:

• Ordained for at least six years (Canon C22(1)) and have significant senior leadership experience within a diocesan or parish context.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults
• A gifted communicator and preacher with sound theological understanding and ability to engage with a variety of theological perspectives
• A person with imagination, fortitude and humility
• Committed to inclusion and diversity, showing compassion and empathy
• A skilled administrator able to organise and prioritise a demanding workload
• Confident in contributing to financial and legal discussions
• Able to navigate sensitive and complex situations, always maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality

We offer:

• A generous and hospitable household of faith in the Diocese of Chichester
• Dedicated administrative support
• Beautiful and historic churches
• A spacious, modern house in the city of Chichester
• A collaborative archdeaconry across 7 deaneries in West Sussex