Moira Astin


Moira Astin
Bishop of Crediton
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Exeter
In office2025 to present
PredecessorJackie Searle
Previous postArchdeacon of Reigate (2016 to 2025)
Orders
Ordination1995 (deacon)
1996 (priest)
Consecration3 July 2025
by Sarah Mullally
Personal details
BornMoira Anne Elizabeth Williams
(1965-02-18) 18 February 1965
DenominationAnglicanism
Alma materClare College, Cambridge
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Moira Anne Elizabeth Astin (née Williams; born 18 February 1965) is a British Anglican bishop. She has been Bishop of Crediton in the Church of England's Diocese of Exeter since 2025.

Early life and education

Astin was born on 18 February 1965,[1] and grew up in Staines, Surrey.[2] She was educated at City of London School for Girls and Sir William Perkins's School, Chertsey, Surrey; both all-girls independent schools.[3] She studied Natural Sciences (specialising in geology) at Clare College, Cambridge,[1] and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1986.[4] She then worked in computing, before training for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.[2] She went on to graduate with a BA degree from the University of Oxford in 1996.[4]

Ordained ministry

Astin was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1995 and as a priest in 1996.[5] She was a curate at St Nicolas, Newbury from 1995 to 1999; Team Vicar of Thatcham from 1999 to 2005; Vicar, St James, Woodley from 2005 to 2011; and Vicar of Frodingham with New Brumby from 2011 until her appointment as archdeacon.[1] She was the Archdeacon of Reigate in the Church of England since 30 October 2016 until 2025.[6]

On 3 June 2025, it was announced that she had been nominated to be the next Bishop of Crediton,[7][8] one of the suffragan bishops in the Diocese of Exeter.[9] On 3 July 2025, she was consecrated as a bishop by Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London (and former Bishop of Crediton), during a service at St Paul's Cathedral.[10][11] She was installed as Bishop of Crediton during a service at Exeter Cathedral on 6 July 2025.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Astin, Moira Anne Elizabeth". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 3 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b "In Conversation with Bishop Moira Astin, The Bishop of Crediton". Exeter Cathedral. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ "✠ The Rt Revd Moira Anne Elizabeth ASTIN". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Moira Anne Elizabeth Astin". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 (100th edition), p25: Church House Publishing (ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0).
  6. ^ "The Bridge" Newspaper of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark Vol 21 No 10 (Christmas/New Year 2016/17) 02 Archdeacon of Reigate installed
  7. ^ "Appointment of Suffragan Bishop of Crediton: 3 June 2025". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  8. ^ "No. 64778". The London Gazette. 25 June 2025. p. 12682.
  9. ^ "Moira Astin is Announced as New Bishop of Crediton". Diocese of Exeter. 3 June 2025. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  10. ^ Stanhope, Grace (3 July 2025). "New Bishop of Crediton Consecrated at St Paul's Cathedral". Diocese of Exeter. Retrieved 18 July 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "Bishop third woman to take on role in Crediton". BBC News. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  12. ^ Axford, Chloe (6 July 2025). "Bishop Moira's Service of Installation at Exeter Cathedral". Diocese of Exeter. Retrieved 29 October 2025.