Graham Tomlin


Graham Stuart Tomlin is a British theologian, author and Church of England bishop. Since September 2015, he has been Bishop of Kensington, an area bishop in the Diocese of London. From 2007 until 2015, he was dean then principal of St Mellitus College and is now its president.

Early life

Tomlin was born in 1958. His father was a Baptist minister. He was brought up a Christian but became an atheist during his teenage years. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School; the school was at first an all-boys direct grant grammar school before becoming an independent school in 1976.
He studied English literature at Lincoln College, Oxford and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oxford in 1980; as per tradition, this BA degree was promoted to a Master of Arts degree in 1983. He returned to Oxford to study theology and train for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He graduated from the University of Oxford with another BA degree in 1985. He later completed a PhD in theology at the University of Exeter.

Ordained ministry

Tomlin was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1986 and as a priest in 1987. He was curate of St Leonard's Church in Exeter before returning to Oxford to be chaplain of Jesus College and a tutor in historical theology and evangelism at Wycliffe Hall, where he eventually became the vice-principal. He was for several years a member of the Faculty of Theology of Oxford University, teaching on the Reformation and contemporary mission and culture, before moving to London in 2005.
He was the principal of St Mellitus College, a new church training institution set up by the bishops of London and Chelmsford, providing theological education across London, Essex, and since 2013 Liverpool and the North-West as well through the new centre based at Liverpool Cathedral. He was also principal of St Paul's Theological Centre, which is based at Holy Trinity Brompton, and a constituent member of St Mellitus College.
He is a member of the Church of England's College of Evangelists.

Episcopal ministry

On 2 July 2015, it was announced that Tomlin would become Bishop of Kensington, an area bishop in the Diocese of London. On 23 September 2015, he was consecrated a bishop in Canterbury Cathedral by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Personal life

Tomlin lives in West London with his wife, Janet, and their two children, Samuel and Sian. He is an avid supporter of Bristol City Football Club, Manchester United Football Club and English Cricket.

Publications

Tomlin is the author of many articles and several books, including: