STORY
The Right Reverend Rob Saner-Haigh has been nominated by His Majesty The King to become the next Bishop of Carlisle, succeeding the Right Reverend James Newcome following his retirement. Bishop Saner-Haigh, currently serving as the Suffragan Bishop of Penrith, has been acting as Bishop of Carlisle since Bishop Newcome’s retirement in August 2023. His formal election to the diocesan role marks a significant step in his longstanding ministry within the Church of England.
Educated at Birmingham University and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, Bishop Saner-Haigh was ordained as a priest in 2006. His early ministry included serving at St. Lawrence, Appleby, and holding roles such as Diocesan Initial Ministerial Education Officer and Diocesan Director of Ordinands. He later became Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Kendal and, in 2020, took on the position of Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle, alongside serving as a Residentiary Canon at Newcastle Cathedral.
In 2022, he was consecrated as the Bishop of Penrith, the sole suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Carlisle. Since then, he has been instrumental in supporting the diocese through a period of transition.