Doctor Fiona Gibson (born 1970) will be the next Bishop of Taunton after being appointed by King Charles III.
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She is currently the Archdeacon of Ludlow in the Diocese of Hereford, a role which she has held since 2021.
Fiona Gibson replaces Reverend Ruth Worsley, who held the role from 2015 before becoming the interim Bishop of Liverpool.
King Charles III approved the decision to make Fiona the new Bishop of Taunton.
Who is Fiona Gibson?
Moving from teaching, Fiona became lay children’s minister at her home church, overseeing the church’s provision for children aged 0-10 and working with the church school. While she was in that role, she was challenged to consider going forward for ordination.
Following selection, she trained full-time for four years at Oak Hill College in north London, studying for an MTh in Theological and Pastoral Studies, having been identified as a potential theological educator.
Fiona was ordained deacon in 2011 and priest in 2012. She served her curacy at Christ Church Bedford in the Diocese of St Albans and an incumbency in the rural parishes of Cople, Moggerhanger, and Willington in Bedfordshire, also in the Diocese of St Albans.
She was a member of the Diocesan Synod and contributed to the life of the Diocese in various other ways.
Speaking after she was appointed, Fiona said: “I am absolutely delighted to be coming to Bath and Wells as the next Bishop of Taunton.
“As a child and teenager I visited family friends in Porlock for holidays nearly every year, and have many happy memories of exploring Exmoor and further afield in Somerset. To be able to return to such a beautiful place, while serving its people as Bishop of Taunton, is both deeply humbling and a great joy.
“Having ministered in both urban and very rural settings, I hope this will help me serve its diversity of people – from those in the beautiful city of Bath to the smallest hamlet on Exmoor, those living along the coast and in the towns, and everywhere in between.
“I am very much looking forward to coming to learn and to share with Bishop Michael and all God’s people as we seek the paths where God will lead us in the coming years, and live out our common calling to share the timeless truths and hope of the Christian faith in our ever-changing world.”
Before taking on her role, Fiona will first need to be consecrated as a bishop. This will be followed by her installation as Bishop of Taunton in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, at a service at Wells Cathedral, early in 2026.
Michael Beasley, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, said: “I am really excited to welcome Fiona’s appointment as the next Bishop of Taunton.
“She has done an outstanding job as the Archdeacon of Ludlow and has a huge amount of expertise that will help us as we seek to grow our church and our increase our work within our communities across Somerset.
“Her rural experience and educational background will, in particular, be a wonderful gift to us.”