THE Bishop of Southampton the Right Reverend Paul Butler is on the move after being promoted to a new job.
After five years as a suffragan bishop in the Winchester Diocese he is to be the next Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.
Later this year Bishop Paul will be the first bishop to be enthroned under the new title for the Southwell and Nottingham Diocese following the retirement of the Right Reverend George Cassidy.
Bishop Paul, 53, who is married with four children, is an “advocate for the children” for the national church – a role which he will continue.
He has strong Nottingham connections – he was based in the city for three years after graduating with a combined English and history degree from Nottingham University in 1977.
Speaking of his time at Winchester, Bishop Paul said: “I’ve enjoyed working with the huge variety of parishes in terms of being rural, urban, market towns, cities and the wealth of different traditions and the way I have been welcomed parish after parish.”
As Bishop of Southampton he has been responsible for the southern area of the diocese.
His regular programme of parish visits has included an annual Prayer Walk through one of the deaneries. The latest covered Eastleigh.
The Bishop of Winchester the Right Reverend Michael Scott-Joynt said: “Paul Butler has done much to encourage our work with children and young people and our central African partnerships.”
