The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner became Bishop of Chichester in 2012.

Dr Warner studied at St Chad’s College in Durham before completing his theological training at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. He was ordained deacon (1984) and priest (1985) in Exeter Cathedral whilst working as Curate of St Peter’s Plymouth.

He moved north to the Midlands in 1988 to be Team Vicar for five years in the Parish of the Resurrection, Leicester before being elected to be the Priest Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham between 1993-2002. During his time in Norfolk he was also priest in charge of Hempton and Pudding Norton between 1998-2000. He was appointed Honorary Canon of Norwich between 2000-2002.

Dr Warner was then appointed as a residentiary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, firstly as Canon Pastor and latterly Treasurer where he made a big contribution particularly with regards to the Cathedral’s connection with the art world (2003-2010).

He was elected as suffragan Bishop of Whitby in the Diocese of York in 2010 and has served the parishes of the Cleveland archdeaconry which includes the contrasting communities of Middlesbrough and much of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Dr Warner is a traditionalist who has worked resolutely in recent years to encourage provision in which people of all integrities can remain together. He worked closely with women priest colleagues at St Paul’s Cathedral and has sought to serve with equal care the ordained men and women in his Diocese.

Bishop Martin on BBC Radio

Bishop Martin was guest on the first BBC radio Sussex Sunday morning programme of the new year with presenter Emily Jeffery. As well as giving the 60 second sermon, the bishop highlighted stories from the days newspapers and spoke about the needs of our society, our ‘moral compass’ and the necessity for a positive view for the future. You can hear it again from 7.39am. Listen here

Bishops Champions

The Bishop of Chichester has welcomed the announcement of five Bishop’s Champions to raise the profile of Family Support Work, (FSW) a charity that supports families in need throughout Sussex.

Denise Patterson DL, Caroline Nicholls DL, Jonathan and Caroline Lucas and Maureen Chowen DL will be joining FSW as representatives to expand the charity’s networks and bring its work to the attention of new audiences.

The Rt Rev Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, President of Family Support Work, said: “I am delighted to welcome Caroline Nicholls, Denise Patterson, Maureen Chowen, together with Jonathan and Caroline Lucas as Champions for FSW. Each of these new Champions already has a distinguished track record of public service and we are hugely fortunate that they will be supporting FSW.

“Their willingness to serve in this capacity is an indication of the serious plight that many families are in, and the important work that FSW is doing, at the local level, to improve the quality of life for children and their parents who are in most need.”

Martin Auton-Lloyd, CEO of FSW, said: “We are very excited to have these five incredible new Bishop’s Champions on board. At a time when FSW is trying hard to increase the support it is able to give to families across Sussex, I am sure that our new Bishop’s Champions will be greatly effective in helping us to expand our networks and bring our work to the attention of new audiences.”

In the picture: L-R Jonathan Lucas, Maureen Chowen, Caroline Nicholls, Caroline Lucas