Bishop of Edinburgh elected: The Church of England Newspaper, February 17, 2012 p 6.

Bishop-elect John Armes of Edinburgh

First printed in The Church of England Newspaper.

The electoral synod of the Diocese of Edinburgh has elected the Dean of Edinburgh, the Very Rev John Armes, as bishop of the diocese.

On 10 February 2012 the synod selected Fr. Armes from amongst three candidates to succeed Bishop Brian Smith who retired last year.

Rector of St John the Evangelist Church, Princes Street, in Edinburgh and dean of the diocese, Dr. Armes served as Area Dean of Rossendale and Priest in Charge of Goodshaw and Crawshawbooth in the Diocese of Manchester before moving to Scotland in 1998.  Educated at Cambridge University, Dr. Armes earned a doctorate at the University of Manchester in 1996 and trained for the ministry at Salisbury–Wells Theological College. He was made deacon in 1979 and priest in 1980 and served his curacy at Walney, Barrow in Furness.

The new bishop-elect stated he was “both delighted and honoured to be elected the new Bishop of Edinburgh, especially as those who have elected me are people who know me and have worked with me over a number of years.  I see this as an exciting challenge and look forward to working with my colleagues as we continue to develop the work and life of the Diocese of Edinburgh.”

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Bishop David Chillingworth welcomed Dr. Armes election saying the new bishop has had a “distinctive ministry as Rector of St John’s Church, Princes Street and has placed the ministry of the Scottish Episcopal Church at the heart of the City of Edinburgh.  He now has the opportunity of exercising a wider leadership role in the Diocese of Edinburgh.”