James Bell

Who is James Bell?

James Harold Bell is the current suffragan Bishop of Knaresborough, area bishop for Ripon in the Diocese of Leeds.

Bell was educated at St John's College, Durham. Then began a 10 year residence in Oxford, where from 1972 until 1975 he studied for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, meanwhile matriculating in the University of Oxford as a member of St Peter's Hall, taking a BA in Theology in 1974 and incepting as a Master of Arts in 1978. Upon his ordination as a deacon in 1975 he was appointed Honorary Curate of Oxford St Michael with St Martin and All Saints and the following year, having been ordained priest, he because Chaplain and Lecturer of Brasenose College until 1982. He held several pastoral posts in West London before moving to the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds in 1997. Initially Director of Mission he was appointed to Knaresborough following the death of Bishop Frank Weston.

Bell was consecrated at York Minster on 2 March 2004 and installed at Ripon Cathedral on 14 March 2004.