Diocese confirms appointment to support ministry across Warwick and Coventry
Downing Street has announced that the Revd Canon Dr Tim Lomax will become the new Bishop of Warwick after his nomination was approved by the King. The appointment makes Dr Lomax the fifth holder of the suffragan see since it was established in 1979.
The Bishop of Warwick is a suffragan — an assistant — bishop within the Diocese of Coventry. Though the title carries the name of Warwick, the role is diocesan in scope: the bishop will work across the whole diocese alongside the diocesan bishop, currently Bishop Sophie, supporting clergy, parishes and diocesan mission.
Background and ministerial experience
Dr Lomax comes to the role from the Diocese of St Albans, where he serves as Director of Mission and Ministry and is a Residentiary Canon at St Albans Cathedral. His ministry has spanned lay and ordained roles across different traditions and settings.
- Grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and studied music composition and education at university.
- Initial lay ministry in an urban priority area, focusing on children, young people, schools and community regeneration.
- Ordained in 2007 after training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge.
- Curacy at St Philip’s, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton; later Vicar of Christ Church, Bayston Hill.
- Since 2016: Director of Mission and Ministry and Residentiary Canon at St Albans Cathedral.
- Completed a Doctor of Ministry in 2024, researching how the Church can cultivate a vibrant mixed ecology.
Across his posts Dr Lomax has led teams responsible for mission, church growth, vocations, ministerial formation, leadership development and wellbeing. He is particularly interested in enabling churches of different traditions and contexts to flourish together in mission.
“The new Bishop of Warwick will be the Revd Canon Dr Tim Lomax,”
Service and national contributions
Dr Lomax has served for a decade on the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission and has published on worship, mission and the value of a Church expressed in a variety of forms. His professional record combines parish ministry, diocesan leadership and academic research into ministerial practice.
The new appointment follows the retirement of the Right Reverend John Stroyan, who stood down in August 2023. The suffragan bishop’s responsibilities remain supportive and collaborative: the Bishop of Warwick works with the diocesan bishop to deliver pastoral oversight, clergy support and diocesan strategy across Coventry’s parishes.
| Role | Place | Year / Period |
|---|---|---|
| Ordained | Ridley Hall / Diocese of Lichfield | 2007 |
| Curacy | St Philip’s, Penn Fields, Wolverhampton | After 2007 |
| Vicar | Christ Church, Bayston Hill | Following curacy |
| Director of Mission & Ministry / Canon | Diocese of St Albans / St Albans Cathedral | Since 2016 |
| Doctor of Ministry | Research on mixed ecology | 2024 |
For Warwick and the wider diocese the appointment is significant. The suffragan bishop often undertakes confirmations, pastoral visits, clergy support and works to advance diocesan priorities in mission and parish life. Dr Lomax’s experience in both urban priority contexts and diocesan leadership suggests he will bring a focus on formation, growth and collaborative working.
Local clergy and civic leaders will be watching the transition closely. While the title is historic, the day-to-day role of the Bishop of Warwick is contemporary and practical: supporting congregations, equipping leaders and helping to shape how the Church engages with communities across Warwickshire and Coventry.
Further details about the installation and when Dr Lomax will take up his new duties are expected to be announced by the Diocese of Coventry in due course.
