A new bishop for Kimberley and Kuruman

The Revd Canon Ossie Swartz has been elected as the new Bishop of our South African partner diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman.

Ossie is well known in many parts of the Oxford diocese: From the start of the partnership in 1993 he was Diocesan Secretary, with responsibility for maintaining the link relationship. Before that he was rector of St John’s, Mafikeng, and held other posts in the diocese.

In preparation for the Lambeth Conference in 1998 he contributed a chapter in the resource book ‘ Anglicanism: A Global Communion’ looking at possibilities for a rural diocese in a changing society.

Ossie grew up in Kimberley and Kuruman and he and wife Yasmin have three children in their early 20s who live and work in Cape Town.

Acting Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, will represent the Oxford diocese at the enthronement and consecration in St Cyprian’s Cathedral on 1 May.

We wish him well and, with so many common bonds, we look forward to an exciting time in the next few years of our link partnership.