Primus post for bishop

An Aberdeen bishop has become Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Rt Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, was elected by the church’s Episcopal Synod.

The 56-year-old, who will now be known as the Most Rev Mark Strange, is the youngest member of the College of Bishops and succeeds the Most Rev David Chillingworth.

He said: “I am humbled by the confidence shown in me by my colleagues and I will seek to serve the church as Primus with love and strength.

“I am deeply privileged to be the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and am very aware that it has been 82 years since a Bishop of Moray became Primus. I pray that I may be worthy of this trust.

“I will continue to serve in my beloved Highlands while I also step out into new and exciting journeys of faith in both Scotland and the wider international church.”

The new Primus was brought up in Aberdeen, where he was both a choirboy and server at St Andrew’s Cathedral.

He studied divinity at Aberdeen University, attended Theological College in Lincoln and has served in both the Diocese of Worcester and the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

He was previously convener of the church’s youth committee and ran annual summer youth camps at Glenalmond.

He is married to Jane, a teacher in Inverness, and they have a son and two daughters.

Rt Rev Mark Strange