Bishop of Argyll and The Isles

30/05/2026

Wonderful to be in Edinburgh and part of this joyous day as Bishop Dagmar begins her new ministry.

27/04/2026

https://www.scotland.anglican.org/bishops-gather-at-celtic-conference-in-wales/

Members of the College of Bishops have travelled to Wales to represent the Scottish Episcopal Church at the Celtic Bishops 2026 conference this week. This year it is the turn of the Church in Wales to host the Conference, which is held every two to three years, with the venue... read more >>

20/04/2026

What an eventful few weeks since last posting here, keeping the Triduum at St John's Cathedral and then driving through the snow on Easter Sunday to St James Ardbrecknish to take the Easter service in a packed wee church.
Easter week saw a trip to Skye to licence Revd Iain Osborne as the Priest in Charge of St Columba's Portree with St Michael and All Angels Raasay and St Mary's Sleat. It was a happy occasion welcoming the first stipendiary minister to this post on Skye for several years.
It was off down to St Kiaran's Campbeltown for the Sunday service on Easter 2, and then a week of meetings - IRL board and Standing Committee in Oban and then Edinburgh for the day for the Provincial Standing Committee. Back from Edinburgh in time to head off to Islay, where Easter 3 was spent with the congregation of St Columba's Bridgend. With an extra night needed on Islay as the ferries were disrupted, and as the sun was shining, we took a walk down the Mull of Oa to investigate the diocesan boundaries. Then back to Oban on Monday to donate blood in the afternoon.
Never a dull moment in the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles.

04/04/2026

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Risen Lord Jesus,
on this joyful Easter morning,
we give thanks for the triumph of your love—
a love that overcomes death
and brings new life to the world.

May the light of your resurrection shine brightly
in every community and every home,
renewing our faith and deepening our hope.

As a pilgrim people,
journeying together through the changing seasons of life,
lead us ever onward in your way —
giving us courage in times of uncertainty,
patience in times of struggle,
and at all times joy in your presence.

As the empty tomb speaks of new beginnings,
so shape our lives by your grace,
that we may be faithful in service, generous in love,
and steadfast in hope.

Bless our communities this Easter Day,
and make us witnesses to your risen life,
today and always.

For you are alive, now and forever.

Alleluia! Amen.

31/03/2026

After a bit of annual leave to spend time with family as our first grandchild arrived, it was back to business with a hectic few weeks, starting with a trip to Arran. It was wonderful to meet new and old members at St Margaret's Whiting Bay, as we joined the congregation for breakfast before the service and a quick bite afterwards too, before heading off for the ferry.
During the week I chaired the Faith and Order Board residential meeting, contributed to the final Lent online session, and then set off for Mull the long way as the Oban ferries were off.
We arrived Friday so that Mrs Bish could get to the inaugural 'Nourish' breakfast meeting at Ulva Ferry for 9.00am Saturday, where she was the guest speaker.
I presided and preached at the Palm Sunday service, before joining the Lent group for lunch and discussion at the wonderful An Doras in Salen. With the ferries being cancelled for the rest of the day, we didn't need to rush away, and it was good to spend time with the group as we had an unexpected extra night on Mull. We were up early to queue for the only ferry, which eventually got us back across to the mainland and via the long way round to Oban later on Monday afternoon. All set now for a belated start to Holy Week!

18/03/2026

Sharing the Primus' statement following the vote yesterday.

Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, responds to the outcome of the Scottish Parliament vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill:

"Last night the Scottish Parliament concluded its lengthy debate on the Member's Bill introduced by Liam McArthur MSP seeking to permit assisted dying in Scotland," said the Primus.

"The decision to reject the bill will not please everyone - we live in a society divided by this issue and some very strong opinions are held. Nevertheless, we thank members of the Scottish Parliament for their care and attention to debating this bill.

"The provincial Church in Society Committee and members of the Doctrine Committee responded to the consultation paper on this bill during its journey towards debate in the Parliament, saying:

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

"Those words of course did not please those who expected a definite position.

"The Church’s calling is to listen and to care for those who are facing end of life issues. We will continue to support those who work in and with palliative care and who aim to provide the best end-of-life experience possible. We will continue to walk alongside those who are struggling with terminal illness and their families.

"Above all, we will continue to follow Christ’s call to love one another with compassion, to honour the dignity of every person, and to bear witness to hope even in the midst of suffering.

"Whatever differing convictions we may hold on assisted dying, we remain united in our commitment to accompany those at the end of life with prayer, tenderness, and faithful presence."

17/03/2026

As Primus I had planned to visit Jerusalem and the West Bank during Holy Week, writes Bishop Mark Strange. The visit was planned with colleagues from USPG so that we could show support for our friends in the Diocese of Jerusalem and to see for ourselves how things had changed since our last visit.

Unfortunately, even though we had waited to see if the situation in the Middle East would calm, the final end to our hopes came with the cancellation of our flights.

I had intended that the visit would provide the background for a season of prayer, using the experience to influence our thoughts.

This cannot now happen, so I have asked the College of Bishops if the Scottish Episcopal Church could hold a Day of Prayer for the churches and people of the Middle East on the Tuesday of Holy Week (31 March) – the day when I would have been on the West Bank.

Each Bishop has responded positively and we hope that an opportunity to pray alongside our brothers and sisters will be found across the Province.

Please continue to pray for peace.

As was written by our friend Archbishop Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East: “Suddenly, our people from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf find themselves once again huddled in shelters.”

He said that those suffering in the strikes reside within “our ecclesiastical boundaries”. Members in the Diocese of Iran “are currently enduring the terror of aerial bombardment” and members in the Diocese of Cyprus & the Gulf “are witnessing the arrival of war at their doorsteps”.

He called for prayerful support from the global Church, urging Christians to be “bridge builders” because “even as diplomatic windows seem to slam shut, the Church must keep the doors of reconciliation open”.

The archbishop continued: “We refuse to see our neighbours as enemies, whether they be in Tehran, Tel Aviv or the military bases of the Gulf.”

He asks us to pray.

God of mercy, look with compassion
on all who are affected by the present conflict.
Grant insight to hardened hearts,
comfort to the fearful,
protection to those in danger,
and hope to those who are despairing,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Further resources for the Day of Prayer will be made available nearer the time at this page on our website: https://www.scotland.anglican.org/day-of-prayer-for-the-people-of-the-middle-east/

15/02/2026

Congratulations+Dagmar. We look forward to welcoming you to the Province.

The Diocese of Edinburgh has chosen a new Bishop, following the election yesterday (14 February) of the Rt Rev Dr Dagmar Winter.

The Bishop-Elect of Edinburgh is the current Suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon, and will be translated to her new post later in the year.

Bishop Dagmar was elected following the retirement of the Rt Rev Dr John Armes who served the Diocese as Bishop for 13 years. She accepted the post following a vote of the Electoral Synod where she received over half of the votes in each house, with clergy and lay representatives from congregations across the Diocese voting.

Bishop Dagmar was ordained priest in 1997 in the Diocese of Rochester, Church of England, serving there and in the Diocese of Newcastle, and was made a Canon of Newcastle Cathedral in 2011. She was consecrated Bishop of Huntingdon in the Diocese of Ely in 2019. She is also currently Acting Bishop of Ely, a position she has held since 2023.

Speaking just after the election, the new Bishop-Elect said: “I am hugely honoured to have been elected as the next Bishop of Edinburgh and would like to thank most warmly all those involved in the thorough process, indeed, in electing me.

“I rejoice in the diversity and inclusivity of the Diocese of Edinburgh and can’t wait to get to know all the clergy and people in the charges from the Tweed to the Firth of Forth – your joys, your challenges, your opportunities. I firmly believe that the Scottish Episcopal Church has a unique voice to share in today’s world, and I am committed to supporting and encouraging all who contribute to its mission and ministry and to raising its profile further. I also look forward to joining the College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

“As I pray for you, please pray for me as I prepare to leave Ely and join you in Edinburgh.

“Only last night I confirmed some young people, preaching on John 20:19–end, and told them ‘as Jesus was sent, so he sends us’. It will be exciting to discover with you where God will lead us. The one who calls us is faithful – this is our joy, our hope and our strength.”

Responding to the result, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Mark Strange said: “I am delighted to welcome Bishop Dagmar as Bishop-Elect into this new season of ministry in the Scottish Episcopal Church, and I am looking forward to welcoming her to the College of Bishops. The gifts she brings will enhance the life and mission of the Church.

“I would also like to thank everyone who took part in the process – those who offered themselves and tested their discernment, as well as members of the Electoral Synod, Diocesan Officers, Preparatory Committee, diocesan staff and Bishop Andrew Swift, Convener of the Electoral Process, for their prayerful work.

“Please keep Bishop Dagmar in your prayers as we plan her installation and new beginnings in Scotland.”

10/02/2026

Final session of our Conference Day, wonderfully led by Canon Paul, the Canon Missioner. Much to inspire and encourage.

24/01/2026

We've just left a packed - and I mean packed - Corran Halls, with the family fun day in full swing. What a great atmosphere , with so many families enjoying this great event. Well done to Paul, Emily, and the many volunteers from all the churches in Oban!