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Sean Alexander John Semple is a South Africa-born Anglican bishop. Since 2024, he has been the sixth bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf in the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, a diocese encompassing Cyprus and the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula states of Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Yemen. Earlier in his clerical career, he served in three different provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Early life and education

Semple was born in South Africa. His undergraduate studies in psychology and theology were at the University of Natal and the University of South Africa, followed by postgraduate studies in spirituality at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and in clinical psychology at the University of Nicosia.

Ordained ministry

Semple began his ministry in the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, where spent a decade before being ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in 2011. He served as clergy in the Diocese of Natal and in the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf, where he was associate priest in Larnaca. In 2015, Semple moved to England to serve in the Diocese of Hereford, first as vicar of Weobley with Sarnesfield and Norton Canon and later as rector of Ross with Walford and Brampton Abbotts. He was also rural dean of Ross and Archenfield.

In February 2024, Semple was elected bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf following the retirement of Michael Lewis. He was consecrated to the episcopate by Archbishop Hosam Naoum and enthroned at St. Christopher's Church in Bahrain on 24 May 2024. He is scheduled to be enthroned at St. Paul's Cathedral in Nicosia in June 2024.

Personal life

Semple is married to Jenny, and together they have five children and a grandchild.

References

1. Gooding, Tammy (9 February 2024). "Ross-on-Wye vicar becomes bishop of 10 countries". BBC Hereford and Worcester. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
2. "Bishop Sean Consecrated". Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
3. ^ Perry, Helen (7 February 2024). "Announcing Bishop-elect the Revd Sean Semple". Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
4. ^ "Revd Sean Semple elected as Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf". Ross Gazette. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
5. "UK news in brief". Church Times. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
6. "Secretary General attends the first consecration of an Anglican bishop in Bahrain". Anglican Communion News Service. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
7. Cassano, Julia (25 May 2024). "First Anglican bishop is consecrated at cathedral". GDN Online. Retrieved 28 May 2024.

• Living people
• Anglican bishops in Cyprus and the Gulf
• 21st-century Anglican bishops in the Middle East
• University of Nicosia alumni
• University of South Africa alumni
• University of Natal alumni
• University of KwaZulu-Natal alumni