From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also: List of bishops of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.
The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be a Lord Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and most important in England. Originally it was the see of the kingdom of Wessex, with the cathedra at Dorchester Cathedral under Saints Birinus and Agilbert. It was transferred to Winchester in 660. During the Middle Ages, it was one of the wealthiest English sees, and its bishops have included a number of politically prominent Englishmen, notably the 9th century Saint Swithun. The official residence of the Bishop of Winchester is Wolvesey Palace in Winchester. Other traditional homes included Farnham Castle and their London residence at Winchester Palace in Southwark, Surrey (now London).
The current Bishop is Michael Scott-Joynt, who was formerly the Suffragan Bishop of Stafford, and was enthroned in Winchester Cathedral in 1995. He signs 'Michael Winton:'
