Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin

The Rt Revd Rose Hudson -Wilkin, originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, is the first black female bishop in the Church of England.

She has responsibilities for the historic diocese of Canterbury in Kent and has oversight of over 300 churches and more than 100 Church of England schools. In addition to her managing the day to day running of the Diocese of Canterbury she is one of the
Racial Justice Commissioners of the Church of England. She is also an Advisor to the Anti-Slavery Collective, a charity seeking to raise awareness with regards to Modern Day Slavery.

She has received honorary degrees from three universities: in 2017 (Honorary doctorate ‘honoris causa’ LLB from the University of Technology, Jamaica), and 2021 (honorary doctorate – Doctor of Letters by the University of Wolverhampton), in 2022, the University of York St John, awarded her the degree of “Doctor of Theology”(honaris causa).

She has held the significant roles of being a Chaplain to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll and becoming the first female to be appointed to the position of the 79th Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. In the summer of 2019, she was given the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government (in the Rank of Commander – CD) and awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list 2020.

She was one of three female bishops to make history by playing a part in the coronation of King Charles the lll. Bishop Hudson-Wilkin carried the golden patten in the procession used to bring the communion bread to the King and Queen during the service and presented Queen Camilla with one of her regalia’s – the rod.

She was awarded the Kings Coronation Medal for services to the coronation of their Majesties, The King & Queen in May 2023.

Her autobiography, The Girl From Montego Bay, was published by SPCK in January 2025.

Bishop Rose is in wide demand as a preacher and speaker undertaking numerous engagements nationally and internationally, as well as engaging regularly with local and national media outlets addressing issues of social justice.

She is married to the Revd Kenneth Wilkin, a retired Prison Chaplain and they have three adult children.