Jonathan Frost

Last updated

The Right Reverend

Jonathan Frost
Bishop of Portsmouth
Admission and Licensing of new Readers by the Dean of York (51595553097) (cropped 2).jpg
Frost in 2021
Church Church of England
Diocese Diocese of Portsmouth
In office2022–present
Predecessor Christopher Foster
Previous post(s) Dean of York and honorary assistant bishop (2019–2022)
Bishop of Southampton (2010–2019)
Orders
Ordination1993 (deacon)
1994 (priest)
by  Patrick Harris
Consecration30 November 2010
by  Rowan Williams
Personal details
Born (1964-09-26) 26 September 1964 (age 60)
Nationality British
Denomination Anglicanism
SpouseChristine Frost
Children3
Alma mater
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Spiritual
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 September 2025

Jonathan Hugh Frost (born 26 September 1964) is a British Anglican bishop. He has served as the Bishop of Portsmouth since 18 January 2022. He was previously Dean of York and Bishop of Southampton, a suffragan bishop in the Church of England's Diocese of Winchester since 2010.

Contents

Early life and education

Frost was born on 26 September 1964. [1] He studied at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree in 1988. [2] From 1991 to 1993, he trained for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an evangelical Anglican theological college. [3] He continued his studies at University of Nottingham, completing a Master of Theology (MTh) in 1999. [2]

Ordained ministry

Frost as Dean of York in 2020 Dean of York (50387404841) (cropped).jpg
Frost as Dean of York in 2020

Frost was ordained a deacon on 27 June 1993, by Patrick Harris, Bishop of Southwell, at Southwell Minster [4] — directly before he began his curacy at West Bridgford — and then a priest on 2 July 1994 at St John's, Beeston, again by Harris. [5] In 1994, alongside his curacy, he became a police chaplain until he moved on from both posts in 1997 when he became Rector of Ash until 2002. Frost also served on the General Synod [6] during the 2005–2010 session. [7]

His most recent posts prior to the episcopate, since 2002, were as Anglican chaplain to the University of Surrey and a canon residentiary at Guildford Cathedral. [6] In 2007, he became co-ordinating chaplain at the university [6] and was appointed the Bishop of Guildford's Advisor for Inter-Faith Relations. [8]

Episcopal ministry

It was announced on 30 July 2010 that Frost would become Bishop of Southampton in the Diocese of Winchester, succeeding Paul Butler (following Butler's translation to Southwell). [6] On 30 November 2010, he was consecrated a bishop at St Paul's Cathedral by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury.. [8] [9] [10] He was welcomed to the Diocese of Winchester as Bishop of Southampton and installed as an honorary canon on 4 December 2010 at Winchester Cathedral. [8]

On 26 November 2018, it was announced that Frost would be the next Dean of York, the head of the chapter of York Minster; [11] his installation as Dean occurred on 2 February 2019. [12] [13] In March 2019, he was also licensed an honorary assistant bishop of the diocese, with a place in the diocesan House of Bishops. [14]

On 8 October 2021, it was announced that Frost is to become the next Bishop of Portsmouth, the ordinary of the Diocese of Portsmouth, from the end of 2021. [15] He was elected by the College of Canons on 2 December 2021 (becoming bishop-elect); [16] he legally took the See on the confirmation of that election on 18 January 2022. [17] He was installed as tenth Bishop of Portsmouth on 12 March 2022. [18] On 8 September 2025, Frost was summoned to the House of Lords as one of the Lords Spiritual following the retirement of Vivienne Faull, the Bishop of Bristol. [19]

Views

In November 2022, in response to the Church of England's Living in Love and Faith process, Frost stated "I am arguing for positive change which would enable us, as a Church, to bless, recognise and encourage signs of God's grace, presence and holiness in relationships between same-sex couples". [20]

In November 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy". [21]

Personal life

Frost is married to Christine, who is a teacher; they have three children. [6] [22]

As of 2018, Frost is a Benedictine oblate. [11]

Frost is also an avid Fulham FC fan. [23] [24]

Styles

References

  1. ↑ "Frost, Jonathan Hugh" . Who's Who . Vol. 2016 (November 2015 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 10 September 2016.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. 1 2 "Southampton, Bishop Suffragan of". Who's Who 2018 . Oxford University Press. 1 December 2017. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.254781.
  3. ↑ "Jonathan Hugh Frost" . Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing . Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Petertide ordinations" . Church Times . No. 6803. 2 July 1993. p. 6. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 10 September 2016– via UK Press Online archives.
  5. ↑ "Gazette: Ordinations" . Church Times . No. 6857. 15 July 1994. p. 5. ISSN   0009-658X . Retrieved 10 September 2016– via UK Press Online archives.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Number 10 — Suffragan See of Southampton
  7. ↑ Peter Owen — Members of General Synod, 2005–2010
  8. 1 2 3 Next Bishop of Southampton announced
  9. ↑ Next Bishop of Southampton to be consecrated today [ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ "Big day for Bishop of Southampton". Daily Echo. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 "New Dean of York". Diocese of York. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "York Minster". York Minster. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Dodd, George (26 November 2018). "New Dean of York revealed as the Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Frost". York Press. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "Dean of York takes on honorary role in York Diocese". Diocese of York. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  15. ↑ Diocese of Portsmouth — New Bishop of Portsmouth is announced (Accessed 8 October 2021)
  16. ↑ @CofEPortsmouth (2 December 2021). "The process by which Bishop Jonathan Frost (@DeanOfYork) will become our new bishop took a significant step forward…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Acting Dean of York announced". York Minster. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.& "Services beginning Sunday 16 January 2022 (image)". St Mary le Bow Church, London. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Young people take centre stage at bishop's installation". Diocese of Portsmouth. 12 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "Parlimentary Career: the Lord Bishop of Portsmouth". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Living in Love and Faith". Diocese of Portsmouth. November 2022. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Martin, Francis (1 November 2023). "Don't delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops". Church Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  22. ↑ Daily Echo — New Bishop for Southampton
  23. ↑ "Frost returns south to become Bishop of Portsmouth". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  24. ↑ "Diocese of Portsmouth - News - New Bishop of Portsmouth is announced". www.portsmouth.anglican.org. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Southampton
2010–2019		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dean of York
2019–2022		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Portsmouth
2022–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.