Canon Winton will succeed the Rt Revd Dr David Atkinson who retires in August.
 
Alan Winton (51) trained for the ordained ministry at Lincoln Theological College. Before ordination he worked for Shell and then completed a PhD in Biblical Studies at Sheffield University before moving to Strasbourg to work with the European Ecumenical Commission for Church and Society. Following his ordination in 1991, Dr Winton served his curacy in the Diocese of London before moving to the Diocese of St Albans to be Vicar of Walden and Continuing Ministerial Education Officer, responsible for the in-service training of the clergy.  In 1999 he moved to Welwyn where he has ministered for the past ten years. He is married to Pippa, who was ordained in 1994 and has worked as a counsellor in a Hospice for the past fifteen years. They have two grown-up daughters, Sarah and Tasha.
 
Commenting on his appointment, Canon Winton said, “After fourteen happy years in St Albans’ Diocese, I am delighted to be coming to the Diocese of Norwich to become Bishop of Thetford, hoping to build on the good work of Bishop David in these last eight years. I have good memories of family holidays spent in Norfolk and feel privileged to be coming to live and work in such a beautiful part of the country. The diocese has a rich Christian heritage, seen not least in the many beautiful churches of Norfolk and Waveney, but also in the lives of the clergy and people of the diocese who I look forward to meeting and working with in the coming months
 
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James said, "Alan Winton is a very experienced and much loved parish priest. I am sure he will quickly come to be greatly appreciated in the Diocese of Norwich. He has a fine reputation as a pastor and preacher who can think well beyond the local level but who has given priority in his ministry to parish work.  He knows what it is to have charge of a large congregation as well as small ones in rural locations.  Although I did not know him personally I've known of his ministry by reputation for some time. It will be a pleasure to welcome Alan and Pippa to this diocese and I look forward very much to working with Alan in the coming years.  I hope everyone in the diocese will keep Alan, Pippa and their family in their prayers as they prepare to move to Norfolk and Alan begins his new and demanding ministry."
 
Canon Winton will be consecrated bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury on Tuesday 29 September at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He will be formally welcomed to the Diocese at a special service at Norwich Cathedral in November.
 
ENDS