Julie Conalty
Julie Conalty | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Birkenhead | |
_(Julie_Conalty_cropped).jpg) Conalty in 2022 | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Chester |
| In office | 2021 to present |
| Predecessor | Keith Sinclair |
| Other post(s) | Archdeacon of Tonbridge (2017–2021) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1999 (deacon) 2000 (priest) |
| Consecration | 19 July 2021 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 60–61) |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Simon |
| Children | 2 |
Julie Anne Conalty (born 1963) is a British Anglican bishop. Since 19 July 2021, she has been the Bishop of Birkenhead, one of two suffragan bishops of the Church of England Diocese of Chester.[1] She previously served as Archdeacon of Tonbridge in the Diocese of Rochester since 2017.[2][3]
Conalty trained for the ministry at the South East Institute for Theological Education; she was ordained deacon in 1999, and priest in 2000. She was at East Wickham from 1999 to 2004; and Charlton to 2010.[4] After a curacy at Plumstead Common she was Vicar of Erith from 2012 until her appointment as Archdeacon.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Conalty was born in 1963.[5] She was educated at Ormskirk Grammar School in Ormskirk, Lancashire: it was a grammar school which became a comprehensive school while she was there.[6] She attended Cottage Lane Mission church and was a member of the youth group, before taking a Biblical Studies degree at the University of Sheffield.[2][7][8] Although she felt called to ordained ministry as a teenager, women could not become priests in the Church of England at that time.[3]
After leaving university, Conalty first worked with the homeless as a night shelter manager between 1985 and 1986.[2][6] She then moved into law enforcement, first as a community support officer (1986 to 1988), and then as a probation officer (1990 to 1999).[6] In between, she trained as a social worker.[9] In the 1990s, she finally trained for ordination on a part-time basis with the South East Institute of Theological Education.[3][7]
Ordained ministry
[edit]Conalty was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1999 and as a priest in 2000.[5] She began her ecclesiastical career as a non-stipendiary minister (ie, part-time and unpaid) in the Diocese of Southwark, while continuing to work in probation and youth services.[2] She first served at St Michael the Archangel, East Wickham from 1999 to 2004, and then at St Luke with Holy Trinity, Charlton from 2004 to 2010.[10]
In 2010, Conalty left her secular career and moved into full-time ministry,[3][11] becoming associate priest of the Plumstead Common United Benefice.[6] In 2012, she moved to the Diocese of Rochester where she had been appointed Vicar of Christ Church, Erith.[7] She was additionally Bishop's Advisor for the Ministry of Ordained Women (2013 to 2017) and Area Dean of Erith (2014 to 2017).[2][10] In 2016, she was made an Honorary Canon of Rochester Cathedral.[9] On 24 September 2017, she was collated as Archdeacon of Tonbridge.[2] She was also the Bishop of Rochester's Lead for Safeguarding.[9]
Conalty has been a member of the General Synod of the Church of England since November 2013.[6][9]
Episcopal ministry
[edit]On 27 May 2021, it was announced that Conalty would be the next Bishop of Birkenhead, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Chester.[7][8] She legally took up the post on 19 July 2021, the day of her consecration as a bishop by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, at York Minster; she was consecrated alongside the other suffragan of the diocese, Sam Corley, Bishop of Stockport.[1]
Since April 2022, she has also been deputy lead bishop for safeguarding with a focus on survivor engagement.[12]
Views
[edit]In 2023, she was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".[13]
Personal life
[edit]Conalty is married to Simon, and they have two sons.[9] The Conalty family support South London club Charlton Athletic.[14]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b "Diocese of Chester | Julie and Sam to be consecrated at York Minster".
- ^ a b c d e f "Meet a New Archdeacon of Tonbridge". Diocese of Rochester. September 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Archdeacon of Tonbridge". Diocese of Rochester. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Julie Anne Conalty". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Julie Anne Conalty". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "The Ven Julie Anne CONALTY". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Birkenhead: 27 May 2021". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b "The next Bishops of Birkenhead and Stockport". Diocese of Chester. Church of England. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "New Bishops of Birkenhead and Stockport announced". The Archbishop of York. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Conalty, Ven. Julie Anne, (born 1963), Archdeacon of Tonbridge, since 2017". Who's Who 2020. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2019.
- ^ "The Revd. Julie Conalty" (PDF). 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "New deputy lead bishop for safeguarding". The Church of England. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops". Church Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Bishops". Diocese of Chester.
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Archdeacons of Tonbridge
- 21st-century English Anglican priests
- 21st-century Anglican bishops
- Women Anglican clergy
- Women Anglican bishops
- Bishops of Birkenhead
- Members of the General Synod of the Church of England
- Alumni of the University of Sheffield
- People educated at Ormskirk Grammar School