Alison White (bishop)

Alison Mary White (née Dumbell; born 1956) is a British Anglican retired bishop. She served as the Bishop of Hull, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of York, from 2015 to 2022. She was the second woman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England.

The Right Reverend Alison White
Bishop of Hull
Bishop White in 2021
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of York
In office	July 2015 to 2022
Predecessor	Richard Frith
Successor	Eleanor Sanderson
Orders
Ordination	1986 (deaconess) 1987 (deacon) 1994 (priest)
Consecration	3 July 2015 by John Sentamu
Personal details
Born	Alison Mary Dumbell 1956 (age 67–68)
Nationality	British
Denomination	Anglicanism
Spouse	Frank White
Alma mater	St Aidan's College, Durham University Leeds University Cranmer Hall, Durham

Early life

White was born in 1956.^[1] Her father is Keith Dumbell (1922–2018), a virologist known for his work on smallpox.^[2] She studied English at St Aidan's College, Durham University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978.^[1][3] She later studied at the University of Leeds and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1994.^[1]

Ordained ministry

In 1983, White entered Cranmer Hall, an Anglican theological college attached to St John's College, Durham. She became a deaconess in 1986. She was ordained deacon in 1987 and priest in 1994.^[1] She was a non-stipendiary minister in Chester le Street from 1986 to 1989; the Diocese of Durham's Adviser in Local Mission from 1989 to 1993; Director of Pastoral Studies at Cranmer Hall from 1993 to 1998; Director of Ordinands from 1998 to 2000; its Springboard Missioner from 2000 to 2004; and Adult Education Officer for the Diocese of Peterborough from 2005 to 2010.

White was a canon of Peterborough Cathedral from 2009 to 2010. In that year she became the priest-in-charge of St James' Church, Riding Mill, Northumberland, and adviser to the Diocese of Newcastle for spirituality and spiritual direction.^[4]

Episcopal ministry

Alison (left) with husband Frank White during her farewell service at York Minster, February 2022

In March 2015, it was announced that White was to become the next Bishop of Hull.^[5][6] On 3 July 2015, she was consecrated as a bishop by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.^[3] She was the second woman to become a bishop in the Church of England; Libby Lane was the first.^[7] She was welcomed as Bishop of Hull on 6 July during a service at Holy Trinity Church, Hull.^[8][9]

In September 2021, it was announced that White would be retiring as Bishop of Hull^[10] effective 25 February 2022.^[11]

Personal life

In 1982, the then Alison Mary Dumbell married Frank White.^[12] He was also a priest and then bishop in the Church of England and ended his ecclesiastical career as the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle.^[13] They are the first husband and wife both to be bishops.^[7]

References

1. "Alison Mary White". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
2. "Hull, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Alison Mary White) (born 1956)". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
3. Kelly, Mike (3 July 2015). "Riding Mill's Rev Canon Alison White to become Bishop of Hull". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
4. "New Bishop of Hull". News. The Diocese of York. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
5. "Suffragan Bishop of Hull: Reverend Canon Alison Mary White". Press Release. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
6. "North-East priest becomes second woman bishop". The Northern Echo. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
7. "New female Bishop of Hull is welcomed into fold". ITV News. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
8. "Hull welcomes second woman bishop Alison White". BBC News. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
9. "Welcome Service for Bishop Alison". Holy Trinity. Holy Trinity Church, Hull. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
10. ""A shining presence in the church..." ~ Bishop of Hull to retire in February 2022". Diocese of York. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
11. "Prayer Diary, February 2022" (PDF). Diocese of York. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
12. "HULL, Bishop Suffragan of". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
13. "White, Rt Rev. Francis, (Frank)". Who's Who. Vol. 2014 (November 2014 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 19 May 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)