Bishop Gregory appointed Archbishop of the West Indies

The Anglican Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI) yesterday elected the Rt Reverend Dr Howard Gregory as its 13th archbishop, primate and metropolitan, making him the third bishop of Jamaica and the first Jamaica-born diocesan bishop to serve in the post.

Gregory was selected by clergy and laity during the 40th Synod of the CPWI in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. He takes over from the Most Reverend John Holder, who retired in February 2018.

The Jamaican was one of two nominees put forward by the House of Bishops, following deliberations yesterday morning. The other candidate was the Rt Reverend Phillip Wright, bishop of Belize. At the end of separate deliberations by the House of Clergy and the House of Laity, the entire body reconvened as an Elective Assembly. Gregory was elected on a simple majority.

The CPWI comprises eight dioceses – Barbados; Belize; Guyana; Jamaica and The Cayman Islands; Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba; The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands; Trinidad and Tobago; and The Windward Islands.