Rick will succeed the Right Reverend Paul Butler who retired from the role in February 2024. We give thanks to the Right Reverend Sarah Clark, Bishop of Jarrow, for her service as Acting Bishop of Durham in the interim; last month Bishop Sarah was announced as the next Bishop of Ely.

Reacting to his appointment, Archdeacon Rick said: “I am humbled and delighted to have been called to be the Bishop of this diocese, which I love. My deepest hope is to be able to walk alongside and encourage our local Christian communities as they seek to both show God’s love in action and help people to come to life-changing faith in Christ – and through this see our churches grow. It is also an honour to be tasked with representing the needs and voices of people in this region in the national church and the House of Lords.”

Rick has served in the Diocese of Durham since 2006 when he came to be Priest in Charge of St Brandon’s, Brancepeth, helping the church to thrive and develop its mission and the Initial Ministerial Education (IME, Phase 2) Officer for both Newcastle and Durham, supporting curates and training incumbents. He became Archdeacon of Auckland in February 2018. He was a member of the Wilkinson-Jay Response Group, advising on the development of Church of England safeguarding. He served previously in the Diocese of Newcastle where, as Vicar of Holy Trinity Jesmond, he saw the church grow strongly in number and discipleship over ten years.

The installation of Rick as Bishop of Durham will take place at Durham Cathedral in the summer. Episcopal arrangements for the short interim period between Bishop Sarah’s confirmation of election to Ely and Archdeacon Rick’s confirmation of election to Durham and consecration are in hand and details will follow shortly.