Here is a summary of recent appointments, resignations, retirements and deaths in the Diocese of Durham.
Appointments
The Revd Miriam Wakefield, currently Curate of Chester-le-Street St Mary and St Cuthbert has been appointed as Vicar of Blackwell All Saints and Salutation and Coniscliffe in Plurality. The Institution and Induction will be held on 16 August 2026.
The Revd Hannah Raitt, currently Interim Urban Pioneer Minister in the Benefice of Bankfoot and Bowling in the Diocese of Leeds, has been appointed as Priest in Charge of Easington, Easington Colliery and Hawthorn. The Licensing service will be held in September.
Farewells
The Bishop of Durham has accepted the resignation of Revd Dr Tim Wall, Interim Priest in Charge of Newbottle St Matthew. Tim will be leaving this post on 27 June 2026, remaining Director of Foundational Learning and Elizabeth Pathway Tutor with Lindisfarne College of Theology. Please be praying for Tim and his family as they move, and the parish as they prepare for a vacancy.
The Bishop of Durham has accepted the resignation of The Revd Canon Eileen Harrop as Priest in Charge of Gainford and Winston in Plurality and Ingleton St John with Staindrop St Mary in Plurality with effect from the end of May 2026. Bishop Rick thanks Eileen for her ministry in these parishes, and to the wider diocese in roles including UKME Adviser. Please pray for Eileen as she offers ministry in the Diocese of Carlisle and continues in national roles, and for the parishes here as they prepare for a vacancy.
The Bishop of Durham announces that Revd Martin Jackson will retire as Vicar of Benfieldside St Cuthbert and Priest in Charge of Castleside St John on 6 July 2026. All are welcome to a Farewell Eucharist at St Cuthbert’s on Saturday 4 July at 3.00pm. Bishop Rick would like to thank Martin for all the ways in which he has served this diocese during 45 years of ordained ministry and wishes him a long and happy retirement.
Deaths
The Revd Ian Zass-Ogilvie RIP
The Bishop of Durham was saddened to hear of the death of the Revd Ian Zass-Ogilvie on 29th July 2026, in Warwick Hospital.
Born in 1938, Ian trained for the ministry at King’s College London and St Boniface’s College Warminster, and was ordained Deacon in 1966 and priest in 1967. He served his curacy at Washington (1966-1970) and was then the Bishop‘s Society and Industrial Adviser for North Durham, 1970-1973. A brief period as honorary curate at St John’s Newcastle (1973-1975) was followed by three years as Vicar of St John’s Percy Main, also in Newcastle Diocese. In 1978 he moved south and served in the London and Rochester Dioceses until 1984, when he moved to Scotland, serving in the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness 1984-1988 and then Edinburgh (1988-2000).
Ian then returned to the Durham Diocese as Chief Officer of the Churches’ Regional Commission in the NE, 2000-2005. He then received PTO in the Durham Diocese and in Aberdeen and Orkney Diocese, while also being a Research Fellow and Tutor at St Chad’s College. He and his wife had recently moved to Coventry to be close to family.
Funeral arrangements are still being made.
Please remember Ian’s widow and family in your prayers at this sad time.
The Revd Robert Douglass Thomson RIP
The Bishop of Durham was saddened to learn of the death recently of the Revd Robert Douglass Thomson. Born in 1937, Robert trained as a teacher (Teaching Cert from London University 1961; Diploma in Advanced Educational Studies from Newcastle University 1970; B.Ed from Durham in 1975)), and later trained for ordination through NEOC, being ordained deacon in 1979 and priest in 1980. He served as NSM at Shincliffe 1979-1998, and also as Chaplain to St Aidan’s College of Durham University 1993-1999. He retired in 1999 and then held PTO in the Diocese until 2021.
Throughout his ministry he gave generously of his time to the wider community. He volunteered for St Cuthbert’s Hospice and Durham Cathedral and, through various fund raising events with St Mary’s Shincliffe, supported numerous charitable. His ministry was characterised by quiet commitment, kindness, and a willingness to serve wherever he was needed.
Please hold Robert’s family and friends in your prayers at this sad time.
Bishop Stephen Pedley RIP
The Bishop of Durham was saddened to hear of the death, on 1st July, of Bishop Stephen Pedley. Stephen came to the Diocese of Durham in 1976 as Vicar of St Peter’s Stockton, moving in 1988 to become Rector of Whickham, where he served until 1993. He then spent 5 years as a Residentiary Canon at Durham Cathedral, before he was made Bishop of Lancaster in the Blackburn Diocese. While he was in the Durham Diocese, he was a Training Incumbent, a Chaplain to the Queen and a clergy rep on General Synod.
Stephen retired in 1996 and moved to Newbrough near Hexham, becoming an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle. Just last year he and Mary, his wife, moved to Barrasford.
While it is nearly 30 years since he left the Diocese, there are still those in Durham Diocese who remember Stephen and his ministry here with thanksgiving and affection.
Stephen’s funeral took place at Chollerford Church on 16th July.
Please remember Stephen’s widow and family in your prayers and this sad time.