Stephen Cottrell

Archbishop of York since 2020

Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell ('/k//ɒ//t//r//əl/; born 31 August 1958) is a Church of England bishop. Since 9 July 2020, he has been the Archbishop of York and Primate of England; the second most senior bishop of the church and the most senior in northern England. He previously served as Bishop of Reading (an area bishop in the Diocese of Oxford), 2004–2010, and as Bishop of Chelmsford, 2010–2020.

Cottrell was born on 31 August 1958 in Leigh on Sea, Essex. His brother, Professor David Cottrell, is a psychiatrist and academic. He was educated at Belfairs High School for Boys, a secondary modern school, and then at the sixth form of Belfairs High School for Girls. He studied at the Polytechnic of Central London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in media studies in 1979. From 1981 to 1984, he trained for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford. He later studied Christian leadership at St Mellitus College, London, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2019.

Cottrell was made a deacon at Petertide on 1 July 1984 and ordained a priest the next Petertide (30 June 1985), both times by Ronald Bowlby, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral. His ordained ministry began as a curate at Christ Church, Forest Hill in the Diocese of Southwark. From 1988 to 1993, he was priest in charge of St Wilfrid's Church, Chichester, and also assistant director of pastoral studies at Chichester Theological College. He was then diocesan missioner for the Diocese of Wakefield and finally, before his ordination to the episcopate, canon pastor at Peterborough Cathedral.

Cottrell was nominated area Bishop of Reading on 6 January 2004, He had been a supporter of John's original appointment. He said of his nomination: "I am looking forward to becoming the next Bishop of Reading with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I believe my work in mission and evangelism has prepared me well for the challenges facing the church in this new century. I hope and pray that my love for and understanding of the different traditions of the Church of England will enable me to be a focus for unity in the Reading Episcopal area." He was consecrated on 4 May 2004 by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral, following confirmation of the appointment by letters patent. He was installed at Chelmsford Cathedral on 27 November 2010. On 17 December 2019, it was announced that Cottrell would succeed John Sentamu as Archbishop of York, Metropolitan of York and Primate of England, following the latter's retirement in June 2020. The position is the second most senior clerical position in the Church of England after that of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England. Cottrell's canonical election was held by video conference on 11 June 2020. The confirmation of his election, by which he legally took office, was held on 9 July, and his enthronement took place at York Minster during a service of Evensong on 18 October. As a matter of course, Cottrell was appointed a Privy Counsellor on 21 July 2020. Now a Lord Spiritual ex officio, he was re introduced on 22 October 2020. In May 2023, he took part in the 2023 Coronation as one of the faith leaders offering prayers to the newly crowned King.

He is a member of the Society of Catholic Priests (SCP), and a member of Affirming Catholicism. In December 2014, he was selected as president of the movement, taking up the appointment at the start of 2015. In 2007, Cottrell publicly opposed the renewal of Britain's Trident missile systems. The same year, his support for church celebrations of same sex relationships was widely reported. In 2017, while serving as Bishop of Chelmsford, Cottrell said "Whether you believe there should be same sex marriage or the blessing of same sex unions or whether you do not, you are still a faithful Anglican We need to find ways of living with this diversity, not being torn apart by it." He also stated that "there is no reason why prayers of thanksgiving for these [same sex] relationships – perhaps a Eucharist – cannot be offered." In August 2021, Cottrell suggested, in an article for the Daily Telegraph, that Welsh and Scottish sports teams could sing "God Save the Queen" along with the English team in all British matches, saying that it would help to support the union. His idea met with angry responses by some social media users in Wales and Scotland. At the General Synod 2023, in his Presidential Address on 7 July, Cottrell expressed concern about addressing God as 'Father'. His carefully worded remarks have attracted both support and criticism.

Stephen Cottrell is married to Rebecca and they have three children.