“I have made my decision as a way of saying yes to God’s present call and invitation, and not of saying no to what I have known and experienced in the Church of England.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury has, with regret, accepted the resignation of Bishop Jonathan Goodall after eight years as Bishop of Ebbsfleet, following his decision to seek full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
Archbishop Justin said, “I am deeply grateful to Bishop Jonathan for his ministry and many years of faithful service. My prayers are with him and Sarah, both for his future ministry and for the direction in which they are being called in their continuing journey of dedicated service to Christ.
“With regard to the see of Ebbsfleet, we will be starting a process of consultation with colleagues and others — including the parishes to whom Bishop Jonathan ministers — to determine what the next steps will be.”
Bishop Jonathan said, “I have arrived at the decision to step down as Bishop of Ebbsfleet, in order to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, only after a long period of prayer, which has been among the most testing periods of my life.
“Life in the communion of the Church of England has shaped and nourished my discipleship as a Catholic Christian for many decades. This is where I first received – and for half my life have ministered, as priest and bishop – the sacramental grace of Christian life and faith. I shall always treasure this and be thankful for it. I trust you all to believe that I have made my decision as a way of saying yes to God’s present call and invitation, and not of saying no to what I have known and experienced in the Church of England, to which I owe such a deep debt.”
He was made a deacon at Petertide 1989 (2 July) at St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Aylesbury, and ordained a priest the Petertide following (1 July 1990) at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, both times by Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford. He served his title in the Bicester Team Ministry from 1989 to 1992; in the latter two years he was also assistant chaplain at HMP Bullingdon. He was a minor canon and sacrist of Westminster Abbey from 1992 to 1998, after which he served as research assistant and chaplain to the Bishops of Gibraltar until 2005. From 2005 until his ordination and consecration to the episcopate he was chaplain and ecumenical secretary to the Archbishops of Canterbury.
On 2 August 2013, Goodall was announced as the next Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the provincial episcopal visitor (PEV) for the Province of Canterbury. On 25 September 2013, he was consecrated a bishop by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, during a service at Westminster Abbey.
Goodall is a member of the Council of Bishops of The Society.
Goodall is married to Sarah. Together, they have two children; Thomas (born 1989) and Anna-Mary (born 1994).
