The government has announced that the Venerable Dr Jane Mainwaring will be the next Bishop of Hertford in the Diocese of St Albans.

It is the first episcopal appointment to have been approved by King Charles III.

Jane has been the Archdeacon of St Albans since 2020. Between 2003 and 2020 she was Team Vicar of St Mark's in Hitchin, and between 2015 and 2020 she was also Rural Dean of Hitchin.

While serving at St Mark's, she married her husband, James, and they have two children, Elliot and Amelie.

Jane grew up in London and Essex before studying Theology and Religious Studies at Leeds University and completing a PhD at Trinity College, Carmarthen.

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She trained for ministry on the East Anglia Ministerial Training Course.

The Rt Revd Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, welcomed the announcement.

He said: "I am thrilled that Jane Mainwaring is going to be the next Bishop of Hertford.

"Her deep faith and pastoral heart have endeared her to those with whom she has worked, and I have no doubt she will be a superb bishop.

"Please pray for her, James, Elliot and Amelie as they prepare for their move to Knebworth and Jane's consecration."

The Ven Dr Jane Mainwaring said: “Hertfordshire having been my home for the last 20 years, I couldn’t be more honoured and humbled to be given the opportunity to continue to serve the churches, schools, chaplaincies and communities of this county in this new capacity.

"I look forward to deepening existing relationships and establishing new ones, as we seek to share God’s love and hope together.”

The diocese of St Albans includes all of Hertfordshire.

The Ven Dr Jane Mainwaring is expected to become a bishop on February 2, 2023, and the search for a new Archdeacon of St Albans will begin before Christmas.