A new vicar has been appointed to lead Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), the Church of England's largest church.
Rev Canon Archie Coates, 51, the current Vicar of St Peter’s Brighton, has been chosen as HTB’s vicar designate. It follows Rev Nicky Gumbel’s decision to step down in July 2022.
Rev Gumble has led the 4,000 strong congregation since 2005 and has overseen considerable growth in that time. HTB is made up of a large, young, and diverse congregation and hosts eleven services each Sunday across six sites in West London.
The church is also home to the Alpha course - a series of evangelistic talks and discussions which explore the basics of Christianity - which has been adopted by over 30,000 churches of all denominations.
Having published international best-sellers, Rev Gumbel also pioneered HTB’s ministry of ‘church planting’ in dioceses across England and Wales. Many churches have been planted during his time in cities such as Birmingham, Cardiff and Coventry.
HTB’s patrons, the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), Keble College, Oxford, the Bishop of Kensington (representing the Bishop of London), HTB’s two churchwardens (representing the HTB PCC) as well as trustees representing HTB’s associated charities all took part in the decision to appoint Rev Coates as Rev Gumbel’s successor.
HTB churchwardens, Angus Winther and Genevieve Mensah, said: “We are excited that Archie has agreed to be the next vicar of HTB, and are extremely grateful to our patrons for their wisdom and expertise in guiding us through this process. We will look forward to celebrating Nicky and Pippa’s extraordinary ministry at HTB when he steps down in July, and to welcoming Archie, his wife Sam and their family to HTB when he takes up this new role in September.”
The Rt Revd Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington, also said: “I am delighted that Archie has accepted our invitation to become HTB’s Vicar Designate. He is an outstanding leader and we will look forward to welcoming him back to the diocese of London.”
Rev Coates’ formal appointment will take place in September 2022.