The new Bishop of Coventry will be the Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Downing Street has announced, after her nomination was approved by the King. 

Bishop Sophie is currently the Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield.

She succeeds the Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, who left the diocese in November 2023 to become the Dean of Windsor, and will care for 201 parishes in Warwickshire and Coventry.

Bishop Sophie will become the tenth Bishop of Coventry since the modern Diocese of Coventry was established in 1918.

She will make history as the first woman to be Bishop of Coventry.

"I am really delighted to be called to serve as the next Bishop of Coventry," Bishop Sophie said.

"With its rich diversity of people and significant heritage of culture and industry, I know there will be great opportunities to join in sharing the story of God's love with the people of Coventry and Warwickshire. 

"Over the past few months, I have enjoyed learning much about the inspiring ministries offered in urban and rural, traditional and pioneering contexts, among people of all ages and backgrounds.

"I so look forward to getting to know the people of the diocese across church, school, chaplaincy, and wider communities."

Bishop Sophie grew up in Brighton before moving north to study Theology and Religious studies at the University of Leeds. Following discerning a call to ordination, Sophie trained at Wycliffe Hall theological college where she gained an MPhil in theology (Christian Doctrine) from Oxford University and was ordained in 1997 in Bradford Cathedral.

In 2000, Sophie took up the role of Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society in Uganda before returning to the UK in 2003 to take up the role of Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist in Churt in the Diocese of Guildford.

In 2010 she was appointed Vicar of St Andrew's Burgess Hill in the Diocese of Chichester and in 2015 she was appointed as Canon Missioner and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry in the Diocese of Durham.

She added: "The story of Coventry Cathedral, offering a message of forgiveness rather than revenge, has so much to offer our fractured world at this time.

"This gives me great hope for the future as we work together to build on this unique message of reconciliation and make Jesus known more widely. I will of course find it incredibly hard to leave Sheffield, the place where I have learned what it is to be a bishop for the church in today's world.

"I trust that this has equipped me to be the Bishop that Coventry Diocese needs for the coming years as we work together in faith, hope and love, building safer, kinder communities.

"Please pray for me in these next weeks and months, as I will be praying for you all."

In December 2019, it was announced that she would be the next Bishop of Doncaster and she was consecrated a bishop on the 21 of September 2020 at York Minster, following a delay due to the Covid 19 lockdowns.

As Bishop of Doncaster, Sophie is the Sponsoring Bishop for all vocations and chairs the Board of Education.

Also, she is the national episcopal lead for Lay Ministries across the Church of England.

Sophie is married to Chris, and they have three grown up children. 

Sophie plays the violin and viola, is a soprano singer and has been a keen runner for many years.