The next Bishop of Peterborough will be the Right Reverend Debbie Sellin, Downing Street has announced. 

Bishop Debbie, currently Bishop of Southampton, will be installed at a service in Peterborough Cathedral in early 2024.  

She has visited William Law Primary School and Peterborough Cathedral during a welcome visit.  

Welcoming Bishop Debbie to her new role, John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth said; "I am thrilled that Debbie has agreed to serve as the next Bishop of Peterborough.

"She has great experience of bringing unity and identity to a large and diverse diocese, a heart to champion young people and support those at the margins of society and a mission to see our parishes and their communities thrive."  

Debbie is married to Paul, a professor of physics, and has two grown-up sons.  In her rare downtime she enjoys cooking, reading and craft, spending time with family and taking coastal walks.   

Her own commitment to faith developed at a Crusaders youth group and she started full-time ministry as a children and families worker. 

Bishop Debbie was brought up in a rectory surrounded by church life, but a clear calling to ordained ministry came later in life, being drawn initially to work in a caring profession which resulted in a career in NHS management.  

The role of Diocesan Bishop is not completely new to Bishop Debbie who has been the acting Bishop of Winchester following the retirement of Bishop Tim Dakin in February 2022. 

The Diocese of Peterborough is the regional presence of the Church of England in Northamptonshire, Rutland and Peterborough. The Diocese is led by The Bishop of Peterborough, assisted by the suffragan Bishop of Brixworth.