Jo Bailey Wells


Joanne Caladine Bailey Wells is a British Anglican bishop, theologian, and academic. Since 29 June 2016, she has been the Bishop of Dorking, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Guildford. Previously, she was a lecturer in the Old Testament and biblical theology at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and then associate professor of Bible and Ministry at Duke Divinity School, Duke University, North Carolina. From 2013 until she fully took up her bishop's role on 29 June 2016, she had served as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Early life and education

Wells was born in West Yorkshire in 1965. She studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University of Minnesota, and Durham University. She trained for ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham, an Anglican theological college that is part of St John's College, Durham.

Career

Ordained ministry

Wells was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1995 and as a priest in 1996. From 1995 to 2001, she was part of the ministry team of Clare College, Cambridge. She served as chaplain from 1995 to 1998 and as dean from 1998 to 2001.
In February 2013, Wells was named as the next chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Her first duty as chaplain was to carry the primatial cross at the enthronement of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at Canterbury Cathedral on 21 March 2013. She has also been a Canon Theologian of Liverpool Cathedral.
On 24 March 2016, Wells was announced as the next Bishop of Dorking, a suffragan bishopric in the Diocese of Guildford. She was consecrated a bishop on 29 June 2016 at Canterbury Cathedral.

Academic career

From 1997-2001 Wells was Director of Studies in Theology at Clare College and an affiliated lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University. From 2001 to 2005, Wells was a lecturer in Old Testament and Biblical theology at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college. She also served as the college's pastoral tutor. From 2005 to 2012, she was an associate professor of Bible and Ministry at Duke Divinity School and Director of its Anglican Episcopal House of Studies.

Personal life

Wells is married to Sam Wells, a Church of England priest. They have two children together; a son and a daughter.

Selected works

*