The announcement of the Bishop of Oxford retirement 2026 marks a significant moment for the Church of England as the Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft prepares to conclude a decade of leadership in the Thames Valley. Set to retire in the summer of 2026, he will step down in July after overseeing the largest number of churches in any Church of England diocese, a vast network of 800 churches across 609 parishes. The Bishop of Oxford retirement 2026 will also see him leave the House of Lords, ending 13 years of service there.
Dr Croft, ordained in 1983, reflected on his long ministry with deep gratitude. He said: “I am deeply thankful for the ministries of so many people called to sustain the life and mission of churches, chaplaincies and schools across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.” His role has encompassed oversight of 284 schools and academies educating around 60,000 pupils. The Bishop of Oxford retirement 2026 closes a chapter that has touched countless lives across the region.
Before arriving in Oxford, he served seven years as Bishop of Sheffield and has often spoken about the joy he has found in ministry. He said: “It has been and remains an immense joy and privilege to serve as Bishop of Oxford and I am deeply thankful for God’s grace in so many different people and communities across the diocese.”
His tenure has not been without controversy. An independent review in 2023 found that senior clergy had “failed to act” after a man reported to Dr Croft in 2012 that he had been sexually abused by a priest. The findings led to calls for him to resign. Dr Croft apologised, describing it as one of his “deepest regrets” that he did not do more to ensure the disclosure was followed up. The Bishop of Oxford retirement 2026 will come after a special service at Christ Church Cathedral in May.
Dr Croft has also earned recognition for his willingness to take public stances on difficult issues. He became the most senior Church of England figure to support same sex marriage when he published his essay Together in Love and Faith in 2022. He has written extensively about online safety and digital ethics and has advocated strongly for fossil fuel divestment within the national church.
After the Bishop of Oxford retirement 2026 takes effect, the Bishop of Dorchester, the Right Reverend Gavin Collins, will temporarily assume diocesan duties. Sir Hector Sants, chair of the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance, praised Dr Croft’s service and said he had led with “contemplation, compassion and courage” while encouraging prayers as the process begins to discern his successor.
