The Right Reverend Prof. David Walker, Bishop of Manchester
It’s an amazing privilege for me to be the bishop of the diocese in which I was born and brought up, and to be able to offer something back to the community that gave me my faith, my core values and many of the skills that have helped me through my life.
Manchester is an exciting place to live: with thriving and vibrant communities and with a proud history of innovation. There are also many challenges: almost half of our parishes fall within the most deprived 10% in England, and they will be amongst the hardest hit by the pandemic.
It is this mix of challenge and opportunity that makes Manchester such an exciting place to live and work. It is also why I am so passionate about leading the Church of England on the path of growing, nurturing and serving its population.
My work as Bishop of Manchester falls into three main categories:
As the Chief Pastor for one of the largest dioceses in England, I lead a small team of highly talented and experienced, lay and ordained, colleagues. Together we support the mission and ministry of around 250 parishes, almost 200 schools, and a wide variety of chaplaincies. As bishop, I focus on how we set and mould the culture for such a richly diverse community of Christians, and on establishing the vision, strategy, and framework that will sustain us for future years.
The Church of England is deeply embedded in the society it seeks to serve. Within that wider community, I am an ambassador for the place of faith and belief in public life, working with the leaders of other faiths and Christian denominations. It is an honour for me to take part in important civic occasions as a representative of the Christian faith. I also seek to offer my particular gifts and skills, chairing a Housing Association, the Homelessness Partnership Board for the city, and the Greater Manchester Police Independent Ethics Advisory Panel. Coming from Manchester, I am passionate about serving this region and its people.
Finally, I have a part to play on the national scene. My broadcasting role includes leading worship on TV or radio and acting as a national church spokesman on major issues. As a member of the House of Lords, I help hold the government to account in Parliament, speaking particularly on Housing and homelessness, on International Trade, and on matters that relate to Manchester and the North West. Within the national church, I chair our main endowment fund which invests over £8 billion globally to support the work of the church, including in our poorest communities. I’m also heavily involved in the Ethical Investment movement and in supporting monastic communities.
Contact details
Bishop of Manchester, The Rt Revd Prof. David Walker
Bishopscourt, Bury New Road, M7 4LE; Tel: 0161 792 2096; bishop@manchester.anglican.org
Senior Chaplain to the Diocesan Bishop, The Revd Canon Anne Edwards
Bishopscourt, Bury New Road, M7 4LE; Tel: 0161 792 2096; bishopschaplain@manchester.anglican.org
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