09-05-2025
Bishop of Penrith named as new Bishop of Carlisle
The current Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, has been announced by Downing Street as the 68th Bishop of Carlisle.
In May 2022, Bishop Rob was appointed the Bishop of Penrith and has been the Acting Bishop of Carlisle since September 2023. Having served his curacy in the county from 2005, he has ministered for all but two years in Cumbria.
Bishop Rob served his curacy in Appleby Deanery before moving to the parishes of Dalston with Cumdivock, Raughtonhead and Wreay.
He was Bishop's Chaplain for three years and Director of Ordinands for two.
From 2010 he was the Vicar of Holy Trinity Kendal and assistant Rural Dean for seven years prior to his move to the Diocese of Newcastle in 2020 to take up the position of Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry.
He returned to Cumbria in 2022 following his appointment as Bishop of Penrith.
He was born and raised in Birkenhead on Merseyside and attended Birmingham University to study Ancient History and Archaeology, later completing his MPhil research in Archaeology.
After working as an archaeologist, he worked for a church in Birmingham and then as a project manager in an IT firm before training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford.
He is married to Emma. The couple have three children: Ollie (23), Jemima (21) and Hal (19).
Bishop Rob, 52, said: 'It is such an honour to have been nominated as the next Bishop of Carlisle and to be able to continue to serve this county that I love.
'This will be a time of both continuity and change for the Diocese of Carlisle. I'm a local vicar at heart and love the local church.
'It's where we learn together about who God is and what that means for our lives and the place where we can best serve our local communities.
'There is a rich variety of churches across the county, from those which have stood as a sign of God's love at the heart of their communities for a thousand years, to those starting new today in village halls or on fellsides.
'I will do all I can to help each flourish as, together, we seek to share the good news of Jesus. As Bishop of Carlisle, I will also seek to highlight this wonderful county and to do all I can for the people of Cumbria.'
Bishop Rob and his wife Emma have been touring the county on Friday, starting at Carlisle Cathedral before visiting Ivegill CE Primary School, where their children were once pupils.
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They will later meet staff and ecumenical leaders at the Diocesan offices, Church House, in Penrith before visiting a social action programme at St Mary's Westfield.
From there they will meet members of the farming community in Rampside in the South Lakes as well as members of the South Lakes Poverty Truth Commission before attending St Lawrence's Appleby for Evening Prayer.
Bishop Rob succeeds the Rt Rev James Newcome as Bishop of Carlisle, following his retirement in August 2023. A service of installation and welcome will take place at Carlisle Cathedral on a date to be confirmed.
