New Suffragan Bishop becomes Dr Carey's last consecration candidate

The Rt Revd David Hamid became the Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese in Europe at a consecration ceremony in Southwark Cathedral on 17 October. Three priests were ordained as bishops in this, the Archbishop of Canterbury's final consecration service before he retires - and David Hamid was the last in line.

Bishop David takes up his role immediately. Since 1996 he had been Director of Ecumenical Affairs at the Anglican Consultative Council, based in London.

Born in Scotland to Scottish and Burmese parents, David Hamid spent much of his ministry in Canada, and holds dual Canadian and British citizenship. He was rector of St John's Burlington, Ontario (1983-87) where he developed a mission congregation into a self-supporting parish. For nearly ten years (1987-1996) he was one of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada's Regional Mission Co-ordinators.

He has been secretary, member or consultant in many international ecumenical dialogues, including those with Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. He has also been a consultant to the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission and an ex-officio member of the Church of England's Faith and Order Advisory Group.

He has already established good working relationships with many of the Diocese in Europe's partners in Continental Europe. He is a special advisor to the European Provincial Consultation set up at the request of the Lambeth Conference 1998. He is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and French.

A keen traveller, David is married to Colleen (a research scientist at St Thomas' Hospital London) and has two sons, Jonathan (16) and Michael (12). He is a pianist, and music is one of his principal ways of relaxing.

A full profile of and interview with Bishop David appears in the autumn issue of The European Anglican, which is to be published and distributed at the end of October. The photo on this website shows Bishop David with Archbishop George Carey immediately after the service.