Diocese of Southwark
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Christopher Thomas James Chessun, MA, Area Bishop of Woolwich, for election as Bishop of Southwark.
The Right Reverend Christopher Thomas James Chessun, MA, Area Bishop of Woolwich will succeed the Right Reverend Thomas Frederick Butler, BSc, MSc, PhD, on his retirement on the 5 March 2010.
Notes for editors
The Right Reverend Christopher Chessun (aged 54) studied for the ordained ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge.
His first curacy was at St Michael and All Angels, Sandhurst in Oxford Diocese between 1983 and 1987, and he become a Senior Curate at St Mary, Portsea in Portsmouth Diocese from 1987 to 1989.
He then became Minor Canon and Chaplain of St Paul’s Cathedral from 1989 to 1993 and between 1991 and 1993 he was also a Vocations Adviser in the Diocese of London.
From 1993 to 2001 he was Rector of St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney and Area Dean of Tower Hamlets from 1997 to 2001.
He became Archdeacon of Northolt in 2001. Since 2005 he has been Area Bishop of Woolwich.
In May 2010 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York appointed him Bishop for Urban Life and Faith in addition to his other Episcopal responsibilities.
Christopher Chessun has an identical twin, and his interests include music, history, travel, deaf - hearing integration, reconstruction in Zimbabwe and links with Churches overseas.