Scotland elects David Chillingworth as primus

June 15, 2009 [Scottish Episcopal Church] The Rt. Rev. David Chillingworth, bishop of the Diocese of St. Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane since 2005, was elected primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church June 13 during its annual meeting of General Synod. Chillingworth was the single nomination and his election was supported by all other six bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Chillingworth succeeds the Most Rev. Idris Jones, bishop of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway, who stepped down as primus on June 12 following his recent announcement to retire from the office of diocesan bishop.

The role of primus -- which is taken from the Latin "primus inter pares," meaning "first among equals" -- is to preside over the Scottish Episcopal Church's College of Bishops and represent them and the wider church at home and throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Chillingworth responded to his election by expressing his deep honor at the trust being placed in him and speaking of the challenges facing the church today. "We are living in an increasingly open and secular society. This is not an easy place for churches. But it is the kind of society in which small churches like the Scottish Episcopal Church can make a special contribution in mission and service," he said. "We face other challenges. Economic recession brings difficulties for business life and for families. It affects the church too. We have some very difficult decisions to make about how we can sustain our life and work with less resources available."

Chillingworth is widely known in the church as a communicator. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio Scotland's "Thought for the Day." He keeps a blog at www.bishopdavid.net and believes that bishops should use today's means of communication to carry the message of the church.

Born in Dublin in 1951, Chillingworth grew up in Northern Ireland. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Oriel College, Oxford. He trained for ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, in the Church of England. Ordained in Belfast in 1976, much of his working life has been spent at the heart of the Northern Ireland conflict. His work in parish ministry consistently focused on the challenge of reconciliation and the problems of sectarianism. He also served as Church of Ireland youth officer from 1979-1983. Before moving to Scotland in 2005, he was for 19 years rector of Seagoe Parish Church in Portadown and archdeacon of Dromore.

Since coming to St. Andrews, Chillingworth has worked with clergy and others to carry out a major review of the life of the diocese and its congregations. This has led to the Casting the Net initiative which was launched in every church of the diocese on Pentecost Sunday, May 31. Casting the Net is a movement of mission and growth that encourages clergy and people to reach out into the communities in which they live.

Chillingworth is married to Alison, who is a social worker who specializes in fostering and adoption. They have three grown children, Anna, Simon and Mark.