The future new Bishop of Southampton has said taking up the role will be 'exciting and surreal'.

Currently the Archdeacon of Ipswich, the Venerable Rhiannon King Rhiannon will be consecrated as bishop on October 18 before formally beginning her new role in November.

The Suffragan bishop of Southampton is a key leadership role in the Diocese of Winchester covering the parishes, chaplaincies and schools across the six deaneries of Southampton, Eastleigh, Romsey, Lyndhurst, Christchurch, and Bournemouth.

She joined church representatives and members of the community at St Denys Community Food Project at St Denys Parish Church on Friday.

Speaking to the Echo, she said: “It’s very exciting and surreal for me. I have to say it’s very humbling, it’s one of the biggest honours of my life.

“I feel God has called me, so it feels like I’ve got to do it. I feel a lot of trust has been put in me, so I want to do it to the best of my ability, but I feel a huge sense of peace and joy about it.

“It just feels like the right thing to do. The people I’ve met today do seem to be excited and I think they have been waiting a long time.”

Venerable Rhiannon King, bishop-designate of Southampton at helping with the food project at St Denys Parish Church (Image: Matt Davey)

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She will takes over from acting bishop Geoff Annas who had been in the role since November 2023.

The new Bishop of Southampton is the city’s 17th, and she is the second female bishop following Debbie Sellin who left the role in 2023 to take over as Bishop of Peterborough.

On what she hopes to bring to the role, the bishop-designate added: “I’ll be thinking about how we can help all of the churches to flourish and when the churches flourish it helps the communities to flourish.”

While the newly appointed Bishop of Southampton was meeting members of the community in St Denys, the church was hosting its weekly food project, providing free surplus food to those who need it most.

Revd Sera Rumble, vicar of St Denys Parish Church (left) and The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen (right) (Image: Matt Davey)

Revd Sera Rumble, vicar of St Denys Parish Church, said: “Every week we have a food project where anyone can come, it’s run by the community for the community.

“Lots of people come for the food but there’s a social aspect to and many want to be here because of the friendships they’ve built.

“It’s a part of people’s week and it’s all grown from the community, they are the ones that keep it going, we just help it happen.”

The Bishop of Winchester, Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, was also in attendance and said: “I’m pleased with today’s announcement, and I hope together myself and Rhiannon can be the agents of hope and change.”