THE Bishop of Manchester since 2013, Dr David Walker, has announced that he will retire at the end of July 2027, two months after his 70th birthday.
In a pastoral letter to clergy, lay leaders, and congregations across his diocese, on Wednesday, he wrote that the extra time after the required retirement age of 70, by special permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was to allow him “to preside at the Petertide Ordinations, and to relinquish my responsibilities at a point when things calm down for the summer holidays”.
He continued: “Until then, I intend to remain fully engaged in the service of Manchester Diocese as your bishop.”
Dr Walker, who is 68, was educated at the Manchester Grammar School and King’s College, Cambridge. He trained for ministry at Queen’s College, Birmingham, before his ordination as deacon in 1983 and priest in 1984. He later completed a doctorate in philosophy from Warwick University, which he completed in 2015.
He served his title at St Mary, Handsworth, in Sheffield diocese until 1986, before becoming Team Vicar of St Bartholomew, Maltby, and an industrial chaplain in the same diocese until 1991. He went on to become Vicar, then Rector, of Bramley. In 2000, he was made an honorary canon of Sheffield Cathedral, the same year that he was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Dudley in Worcester diocese — a post that he held until his translation to Manchester in 2013.
Four years into his episcopate, on 22 May 2017, 22 people were killed and 1017 injured in an Islamic terrorist suicide bombing in Manchester Arena (News, 2 June 2017). Dr Walker said at the time, of terrorists: “Part of their aim will be to legitimise public abuse of visible minorities. Christians, and everyone, must shout out against such occurrences, and support those who shout first. If we do, the promised Spirit will be our guide and our strength.”
Dr Walker is the deputy chair of the Church Commissioners, and led the work on Project Spire — the £100 million investment fund for communities impacted by the slave trade (News, 10 January 2023). He is also the chair of USPG, which seeks to strengthen mission partnerships across the Anglican Communion.
He joined the Lords Spiritual in 2020 and was appointed Convenor of the Lords Spiritual last year. He has contributed to a wide range of debates, including on the criminal-justice system, child poverty and Universal Credit, the unions, and safeguarding. Most recently, he has spoken in the Lords on the effect of a proposed “mansion tax” on parishes (News, 12 December 2025), the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller community (News, 11 July 2025), and grooming gangs (News, 17 June 2025).
Alongside his wife, the Revd Sue Walker, Dr Walker has worked closely with clergy and lay leaders across the diocese, supporting parishes, schools, and chaplaincies, his announcement notice said. “Under his leadership, vocations have grown and both lay and ordained ministries have flourished.”
