The Rt Revd Geoff Annas is Area Bishop of Stafford
The Rt Revd Geoff Annas is Area Bishop of Stafford – one of the four Bishops who serve the Anglican Diocese of Lichfield. He has responsibility for supporting all members of the Church of England in North Staffordshire and representing the Church to the wider Community here. He has been in post since 2010 and before this served as a Parish Priest for some 27 years in Southampton and the Old Kent Road in the centre of London.
During his training to be a priest Geoff worked at the Centrepoint Night Shelter which was then based at St Ann’s Church in Soho. He has continued to take a particular interest in the issues surrounding homelessness and mental health and well-being.
Geoff currently chairs the Hardship Commission which brings together various interested groups with the City Council to discuss the reasons for poverty in the City of Stoke on Trent and possible ways to tackle the challenges.
Geoff is also involved in providing Christian Chaplaincy to members of the entertainment industry and is himself Chaplain to the Regent Theatre in Stoke. He has been a Street Pastor and is now a volunteer at the monthly Night Church in Hanley. He enjoys the vibrancy of the night time economy and given half a chance will still get on the dance floor himself!
Before his Ordination as a Priest, Geoff trained and worked as a Social Worker. He is married to Dr Ann Clover and they have two children who have now married and are both expecting their first children at the end of January!
All of Geoff’s ministry before coming to North Staffs has been in Urban Priority Areas and so he has enjoyed learning about the challenges and joys of agriculture and rural life. He sees many parallels between the issues facing urban areas and the deprivation to be found in some rural communities.
Geoff feels honoured to have been asked to speak at The Gathering Voices Conference and believes that such opportunities to listen to one another and reflect are vital to enabling all Christians to flourish in their faith.