The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, has appointed the Revd Canon David Gerrard as the next Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham. The Revd Canon Gerrard is currently serving in the Diocese of Leeds.
Speaking on his appointment, David said:
“I feel truly honoured to be called to serve the Diocese of Sheffield as the next Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham. My time in Wakefield, and the larger Leeds Diocese, has been truly wonderful. I am so grateful to all those I have served with and, particularly, the marvellous people of St Catherine’s. It truly is a special church and to see what God has done over my 9 years here has been incredible. We serve a big God and He has grown his church. My task has always been to be faithful to God and as he calls me to my new role I know that I will carry the lessons I have learned and the people I have journeyed with into the future. God will be faithful, because that is his nature, and will continue to grow his church.
“I am excited to be joining Sheffield Diocese and taking my part in implementing the vision to be Renewed, Released and Rejuvenated. I am looking forward to serving the churches, clergy and laity of the Sheffield and Rotherham Archdeaconry and seeing the Kingdom of God grow. I am eager to get to know everyone and both build on the excellent work that has already taken place, as well as seek to listen to God’s leading for new initiatives and projects going forward. Perhaps most importantly of all, I get to stay in God’s own county of Yorkshire!
“I come with a heart for mission, a passion for working class communities and particularly a ministry to young people. I also come knowing I have a lot to learn, and asking for your patience and understanding as I find my feet. God is already on the move in South Yorkshire and the East Ridings and I am longing to hear from you all about it! I look forward to getting to know you all – so stick the kettle on, I’ll be round in a bit!”
David is currently the Area Dean of Wakefield and Vicar of St Catherine’s Church in the Parish of East Wakefield. Ordained in 2012, David trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, following an earlier career in education. He has served in Wakefield since 2016 and was appointed Area Dean in 2019. In recognition of his leadership and service, he was made an Honorary Canon of Ripon Cathedral in 2023. Deeply committed to community engagement, David leads a range of outreach initiatives through the parishes’ community centres (St Catherine’s and St Swithun’s) and founded the Every Good Work youth and social action project. He is also the author of a Lent devotional book exploring stories from Genesis, ‘Creation to New Creation’. David is married to Carole, and they have two daughters. He loves walking, playing music (badly!), reading, all things Sci-Fi (especially Star Trek) and being with his family.
Bishop Pete said:
“I am delighted that David has accepted my invitation to be the next Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham. David has an impressive track record of parish ministry in Wakefield, in particular of combining fruitful evangelism with a passion for justice in communities of considerable deprivation and of work with young leaders, and he has long experience as an area dean. I know he will receive a warm welcome to our Diocese when he arrives in the early autumn. I am grateful to the Advisory Panel who assisted me last month in the discernment process: their prayerful and thorough engagement led us to a clear and good outcome.”
The Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders is waiting to be consecrated and installed as the next Bishop of Doncaster. Leah will be a close colleague of David’s and was involved in his appointment, she said:
“I am delighted that David will be joining us as the Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham. David brings a wealth of experience as a creative, Jesus-centred parish priest and area dean. He has a passion for mission and discipleship grounded in local communities. I am confident that he will be a deeply pastoral, generous and collaborative colleague and I’m looking forward to working with him as we continue to be faithful to God’s calling to us, in the Diocese of Sheffield, to shine as lights in the world. I would ask everyone in the Diocese to pray for David as he moves to this exciting next stage of his ministry.”
The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines said:
“David has served faithfully and well in the Diocese of Leeds and I am sorry to lose him. I wish him well in his new role in Sheffield.”
David will be installed as the new Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham in a service at Sheffield Cathedral in the Autumn. His predecessor, the Rt Revd Malcolm Chamberlain moved on to be the Bishop of Wakefield in April 2025. The announcement has also been made in the Diocese of Leeds.
