Four candidates have been short-listed for the office of Bishop of Brechin which became vacant in July 2017 following the retirement of the Rt Rev Dr Nigel Peyton.

The candidates have been selected by a Preparatory Committee (chaired by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church) consisting of clergy and lay church members who represent the Diocese of Brechin and the wider Church. The next stage in the selection process is a meeting of each of the candidates with members of an Electoral Synod (representatives of clergy and lay church members from the Diocese of Brechin only). That meeting will take place on Saturday 26 May, with the election of the new Bishop taking place on Saturday 2 June 2018.

The candidates are:

The Very Rev Dr Francis Bridger, Rector, St Mary’s Church, Broughty Ferry and Priest in Charge St Martin’s Church, Dundee and Dean of the Diocese of Brechin

The Rev Markus Dünzkofer, Rector, St John the Evangelist Church, Edinburgh

The Very Rev Jeffrey John, Dean of St Albans

The Very Rev Andrew Swift, Rector, Holy Trinity Church, Dunoon and St Paul’s Church, Rothesay and Dean of the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles

Commenting on the short-list of candidates the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, The Most Rev Mark Strange, says “I thank members of the Preparatory Committee for the work they have done and am delighted that four candidates are being nominated to the Electoral Synod. We hope that the discernment in the Electoral Synod will enable them to elect a new bishop who will lead the Diocese of Brechin in its future ministry and mission, and hold each of the candidates and the Diocese in our prayers during this process”

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