Dagmar Winter has been chosen as the next Bishop of Edinburgh following an election held on Sunday. She currently serves as Bishop of Huntingdon in the Diocese of Ely, a role she has held since 2019. In addition, she acted as Bishop of Ely from May 2023 until recently. She is expected to begin her new ministry in Edinburgh later this year.
Responding to her election, Dr Winter expressed gratitude for the selection process and said she looks forward to serving the Diocese of Edinburgh. She highlighted the diversity and inclusive character of the diocese and shared her eagerness to meet clergy and congregations across the region, from the River Tweed to the Firth of Forth. She also affirmed her belief that the Scottish Episcopal Church has a distinct and important voice in contemporary society and pledged to strengthen its mission and visibility.
Of British and Swiss-German heritage, Dr Winter pursued academic studies at the universities of Erlangen, Aberdeen, and Heidelberg. She was ordained as a priest in 1997 and has served in the dioceses of Rochester and Newcastle. In 2011, she was named an honorary canon of Newcastle Cathedral.
Beyond diocesan responsibilities, she serves as Vice-President of the Conference of European Churches, which oversees “Pathways to Peace,” an initiative supporting coordinated church responses to the war in Ukraine.
Dr Winter is the first bishop elected under the revised Canon C4 of the Scottish Episcopal Church. She will succeed John Armes, who led the Diocese of Edinburgh for 13 years before retiring last August. The diocese currently comprises 54 churches.
Welcoming the appointment, Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said he looks forward to receiving Bishop-elect Winter into the College of Bishops and expressed confidence that her experience and gifts will enrich the Church’s ministry. He also encouraged prayers as preparations begin for her installation and transition to Scotland.
In November 2023, Dr Winter was among a group of Church of England bishops who publicly supported the introduction of Prayers of Love and Faith, which offer blessings to same-sex couples, and called for clearer guidance regarding clergy in same-sex civil marriages.
