CAPTION: Rev'd Jo Stobart will start her new role in April
Bishop of Exeter’s New Chaplain a former teacher and parish priest
The Rev’d Jo Stobart has been appointed as the Bishop of Exeter’s new chaplain.
She will succeed the Rev’d Jane Chamberlain, who is retiring in February after over two years in the role.
Rev’d Stobart is currently Vicar of Ilminster and Whitelackington, and Area Dean of Somerset South in the Bath & Wells diocese.
Jo said “I grew-up in west London and, excluding my time at university in Yorkshire, during my adult life it seems that God has always been calling me further west – so I’m delighted to be joining the Diocese of Exeter! I look forward to supporting Bishop Mike in his ministry, getting to know a new diocese and discovering the exciting things God is doing among the people of Devon.”
The Bishop’s Chaplain is a key role in the Diocese of Exeter and Jo will be supporting Bishop Mike in all aspects of his ministry and overseeing his office.
Bishop Mike said “I’m delighted that Jo has agreed to become my new chaplain. She brings a breadth of experience, wisdom and strategic ‘nouse’ to the role and I am really looking forward to working with her. I am also grateful to Jane Chamberlain for her invaluable support at the start of my tenure.”
Jo read history at university, before training as a primary school teacher, teaching in the south-east. She then set up and ran the Education Centre at Southwark Cathedral, before spending a decade as full-time carer for her three, now grown-up sons.
After hearing the call to ministry whilst working as a lay-chaplain in the high-school in Cheddar, she trained for ministry at Sarum College. Jo is married to Ian, who is a Reader and currently acts as local minister for two parishes.
She was elected to General Synod as a representative for Bath and Wells Diocese in 2021, and is a member of the Crown Nominations’ Commission.
Jo will start work as Bishop’s Chaplain on 7 April.
