Vacancy in See

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, will retire formally at the end of November 2025. The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, became Interim Bishop of Leeds from Monday, September 1, taking on the responsibilities of the role. After a transition period of three months Bishop Toby will formally become Acting Bishop of Leeds on Monday, December 1.

This is a major moment for our diocese as we look to the next stage of our diocese’s future, and discern who God is calling to be our next diocesan bishop.

Our Vacancy in See committee has been hard at work, with the formal work of the committee now complete.
This involved the creation of our Statement of Needs and the election of six diocesan representatives to the Crowns Nomination Commission. 

The Statement of Needs gives a descriptive overview of our diocese, covering the breadth and depth of our diverse and varied region, and a statement setting out the desired profile and qualities of our new Bishop.

This can be read below, or a PDF can be downloaded here.

Our six diocesan representatives elected to the Crown Nomination Commission (CNC) are:

• Revd Canon Paul Cartwright
• Revd Canon Rachel Firth
• Canon Professor Joyce Hill
• Ven Dr Andrew Jolley
• Mr Hugh Lorimer
• Canon Zahida Mallard

The CNC is responsible for identifying and recommending candidates for the role of diocesan bishop. It includes six diocesan representatives, six members from General Synod, the Archbishops or their representatives, and the two appointments secretaries. The CNC meets multiple times to develop the role profile, shortlist candidates, and conduct interviews. Once the discernment process is complete, a candidate’s name — or two names if needed — is submitted to the Prime Minister, who advises the King to make the appointment.

Prayer resources

Prayer has been central to the growth and development of our diocese, and needs to remain so as we commit ourselves to being open to God’s sustained calling and our continued transformation.  

Our prayer resources are provided to prompt, encourage and help all of us – all expressions of Church within the diocese - to pray through this time of transition. The focus of our prayer will change as we progress through the retirement of Bishop Nick, saying thank you and farewell to him and Linda, the interim leadership of Bishop Toby, the process of discernment and appointment of the person chosen by God to be our next diocesan bishop, and our welcome of that person who will lead the Diocese of Leeds into the next phase of its life. 

Our set of Vacancy in See Prayer Resources are now available here.

Timescale for the appointment

• October 2025: Statement of Needs approved and published
• October 2025: Diocesan CNC representatives elected
• Between March - May 2026: Crown Nomination Commission meets
• Summer 2026: Announcement of new Bishop
• Winter 2026: Arrival of new Bishop

Leading the diocese during the vacancy

Diocesan life, events, support, training and more continues during the vacancy.

Bishop Toby will serve as Acting Diocesan Bishop, supported by Bishops Anna, Arun, Malcolm and Smitha, as well as Archdeacons Andy, Bill, Cat, James and Paul, and Deans Andy and John, as well as the new Dean of Wakefield.

The senior staff team, boards and synods continue their work, maintaining the day-to-day operations and ministry of the diocese.

Our parishes and schools continue to minister faithfully to the communities they serve, creating confident Christians to grow churches and transform communities.

What happens during a vacancy in see?

The process of appointing a diocesan bishop involves both the diocese and national Church of England bodies. It is a long, significant and prayer-filled journey to ensure the right person is chosen. The process is governed by the Vacancy in See Regulations 2024, and is designed to ensure transparency, consultation, and discernment in choosing a new Bishop of Leeds.

The process includes the Vacancy in See Committee, a group all dioceses are required to have and that operates when the role of diocesan bishop goes into vacancy.

Our committee has 41 members, including five bishops, our three cathedral deans, two archdeacons, 18 members of General Synod, the Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity in Diocesan Synod, two members of elected clergy, and nine members of elected laity.

Bishop Toby is Chair, while Canon Professor Joyce Hill serves the committee as Vice-Chair. Jonathan Wood, Diocesan Secretary, acts as Secretary to the Committee.  

A full list of members of the committee can be seen here.

Our Vacancy in See Committee

Our Vacancy in See Committee has been working in three subgroups, covering the important areas of prayer, consultation and the Statement of Needs.
The Prayer Group is being led by the Very Revd John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, and is looking at how to continue to encourage, resource and facilitate prayer to cover the whole process.

The Consultation Group was being led by Canon Jane Evans and the Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax, and worked on creating the opportunity for everyone across the diocese to have their say on what the diocese needs. When the consultation concluded, the many thoughts, opinions and valuable input it produced were included in the Statement of Needs.

The Statement of Needs Group was being led by Canon Professor Joyce Hill, and developed the document which explains the joys, hope and challenges for the diocese, reflecting what was heard in the consultation.

Vacancy in See Committee members