The Reverend Canon Dr Eleanor Sanderson, who is currently the Vicar of St Alban’s in Eastbourne, will be ordained as Assistant Bishop in June. She says the newly-created role will allow the Church to provide a stronger service to the area it covers.

“Having both myself and Bishop Justin Duckworth in leadership roles will strengthen the capacity to lead throughout the diocese.”

Eleanor completed her PhD in Geography at Victoria, focusing on the intersection between community development and Christian spirituality. She says the topic has particular relevance to her current work.

“The background I’ve got in international community development fits alongside the priorities that we have in the Church.

“It’s about developing a deeper sense of Christ-centred community. There’s also a commitment to the lost and the least—that is, a commitment to places of poverty, and to places of the least powerful, as opposed to the most powerful, which also means challenging our assumptions and definitions of poverty and power.”

Eleanor served as a Chaplain of Ramsey House, the home of the Anglican Chaplaincy at Victoria, while studying towards her PhD. She says she was passionate about her work at the University, which also included lecturing in the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences.

“I loved that interaction with students and helping them as they wrestled with the issues of the day.”

She has maintained strong links to Victoria, and currently serves as a Research Associate in the Religious Studies programme in the School of Art History, Classics and Religious Studies.

“I have a great appreciation of my connection with Victoria University, and I’m looking forward to that continuing in different ways.

“I feel excited about reconnecting with the academic and policy environment as we continue to work together to make a difference in the world.”

Eleanor, who was born and raised in the United Kingdom, was ordained to the priesthood in 2006. She has since served in a number of leadership roles in the Wellington Diocese, and has been with St Alban’s for four years.