Dean of York leaving the Minster to become a bishop
The Dean of York is to become a bishop, it was revealed today.
After two tumultuous years in the role, the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost is stepping down as Dean for a new challenge in the South.
Number Ten Downing Street today announced that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the nomination of Jonathan for election as the tenth Bishop of Portsmouth.
He will lead the Church of England’s Diocese of Portsmouth, which covers 133 parishes across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Appointed Dean of York of York in November 2018 he was installed in a service at York Minster on 2 February 2019.
He was faced with some of the most serious challenges of any Dean after York Minster was forced to close due to the Covid pandemic.
The loss of visitor income left it with a £5.2 million shortfall, leading to a redundancy programme and the closure of the Minster School. At one point the Dean and Chapter feared for the Minster’s future as a ‘going concern’.
But the Minster came through, reopened and has launched a Neighbourhood Plan, with the aim of creating a new public square overlooked by a statue of the Queen, with the school being transformed into a restaurant and public park.
‘Difficult and challenging times’
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, paid tribute to the Dean: “Jonathan Frost has been an outstanding Dean of York.
“He is a leader who knows how to be led, a man of prayer and a servant of the gospel.
“He has very successfully steered York Minster through difficult and challenging times.
“But he has also enabled it to focus on its primary purpose as a place of prayer and a centre for mission.
“Although we are very sad to see him go, we are delighted that he has been called to use his considerable gifts of leadership, pastoral care and missionary endeavour as the next bishop of Portsmouth.”
Jonathan will lead York Minster’s community through the Advent and Christmas season. He will be installed in his new post next year.
The recruitment and appointment process for the new Dean of York is the responsibility of the Archbishop of York and the Church of England. An acting Dean will be announced in due course.