Sophie Jelley

The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley
Bishop of Doncaster
Bishop Sophie in 2024
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Sheffield
In office	2020–present
Predecessor	Peter Burrows
Other post(s)	Bishop-designate of Coventry (to take office spring 2025)
Orders
Ordination	1997 (deacon); 1998 (priest)
Consecration	21 September 2020 by Stephen Cottrell
Personal details
Born	Sophie Rebecca Capitanchik 1972 (age 52–53)
Denomination	Anglican
Spouse	Chris
Children	three
Alma mater	Leeds University Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Sophie Rebecca Jelley (née Capitanchik; born 1972) is a British Anglican bishop. Since September 2020, she has been Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield. In November 2024 she was announced as the next Bishop of Coventry, to take up the post in spring 2025.

Early life and education

Jelley was born in 1972,[1] and was raised in Brighton, East Sussex, England.[2] She studied theology and religious studies at the University of Leeds,[2] graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1993.[1] She trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford,[3] and also studied theology (specialising in Christian doctrine) at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1997.[1][2]

Ordained ministry

Jelley was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in Bradford Cathedral in 1997.[4] The following year, in 1998, she was ordained as a priest.[1] From 1997 to 2000, she undertook her curacy at St Peter's Church, Shipley in the Diocese of Bradford.[1] She then served in Uganda with the Church Mission Society, where she was based at the Uganda Christian University.[5]

Previously, she served as Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry in the Diocese of Durham and Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral since 2015. Before joining Durham, she ministered in the Dioceses of Bradford, Guildford and Chichester, and in Uganda with the Church Mission Society.[6][7][8][9]

Episcopal ministry

In December 2019, it was announced that she would be the next Bishop of Doncaster, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Sheffield.[10] She was due to be consecrated a bishop on Lady Day 2020 (25 March); but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was instead licensed ad interim as "Bishop of Doncaster designate and Principal Commissary of the Bishop of Sheffield" that day.[11] She was consecrated a bishop during a service on 21 September at York Minster:[12] the principal consecrator was Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, who was assisted by Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham and Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield.[13]

On 4 November 2024, it was announced that Jelley had been appointed as the next Bishop of Coventry, to take up the position in spring 2025.[14]

References

1. "Jelley Sophie Rebecca". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
2. "New Bishop of Coventry announced". coventry.anglican.org. Diocese of Coventry. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
3. "Appointment of Bishop of Coventry: 4 November 2024". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
4. Pantry, Lindsay (19 September 2020). "Bishop sets out mission to those on the margins". The Yorkshire Post. p. 11. ISSN 0963-1496.
5. Fearn, Ben (4 November 2024). "Current Bishop of Doncaster, Sophie Jelley, to become next Bishop of Coventry". The Diocese of Sheffield. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
6. "Jelley Sophie Rebecca". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
7. "The Revd Canon Sophie Jelley Announced as the Next Bishop Of Doncaster". The Diocese of Sheffield. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
8. "Governance of Durham Cathedral". Durham Cathedral. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
9. Leeson, Lucy (2 December 2019). "New Yorkshire bishop speaks of 'strong call from God'". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
10. "Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster: 2 December 2019". Government of the United Kingdom. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
11. Pete Wilcox [@PeteWilcox1564] (24 March 2020). "Well, it's not quite what I hoped to be doing at 11am tomorrow but I'm still looking forward to this! ⁦@DioceseofSheff ⁩ ⁦@revsophiejelley⁩ #Bishop-designate #PrincipalCommissary" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via Twitter.
12. "Two new Bishops to be consecrated in two services taking place at York Minster". Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
13. Pantry, Lindsay (3 August 2020). "Consecration date confirmed at last for new Bishop of Doncaster". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
14. "Right Rev Sophie Jelley will become Coventry and Warwickshire's first female bishop". Stratford Herald. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.