SOUTHAMPTON is to have its first woman bishop.

Debbie Sellin, who has been appointed to the role will also be the first woman bishop in the Diocese of Winchester.

She succeeds the Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost who became the Dean of York in January after more than eight years of service in Southampton.

Debbie is currently the Vicar of St John the Baptist, Wonersh with Blackheath in the Diocese of Guildford and is also the Area Dean for the Deanery of Cranleigh.

She was ordained 12 years ago after spending time working as a family and children’s worker in Guildford, and as a manager in the NHS.

Debbie will formally take up her post in July, after she is consecrated as a Bishop.

Bishop-elect Debbie said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be nominated as the first woman to be the Bishop of Southampton. It is a real joy to have the opportunity to support the many churches, parish communities and schools in their work to spread the Christian message. I am looking forward to moving to Southampton and getting to know the people of this wonderful city, as well as those across Hampshire and East Dorset.”

The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, welcomed the announcement, saying: “Over the past few years our Diocese has begun to refocus our attention on our Christian mission, and most recently, through Winchester Mission Action, our plan is to engage with the ‘missing generations’ of young people across Hampshire and East Dorset.

"Debbie has particular experience both of working with young people and of outreach to groups which may not have previously engaged with the Christian Church. I am sure she will provide inspirational Christian leadership within our Diocese.”

The new bishop is is married to Paul, a Professor of Physics at Surrey University, and they have two grown-up sons. She is originally from Scotland, having lived there until 1993, and has family still in Edinburgh.

Her interests include walking, reading, travel and open-air swimming.

The Bishop of Southampton is a Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of Winchester and works alongside the Bishop of Basingstoke to support the Bishop of Winchester in the Diocese, with a particular focus on serving the areas of Southampton and South Hampshire, and Bournemouth and East Dorset.