Archdeacon of Croydon to stand down next year

The Archdeacon of Croydon, The Venerable Christopher Skilton, is to retire in February next year, shortly before his 65th birthday.

Mr Skilton, pictured above, has been Archdeacon of Croydon since 2013 and prior to that was Archdeacon of Lambeth – also in the Diocese of Southwark – from 2004.

Following a BA at Magdalene College Oxford he trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was ordained deacon in 1980 and priest in 1981. Curacies in the Diocese of London and Salisbury followed.

He was then Team Vicar in Great Baddow, in the Diocese of Chelmsford before becoming Team Rector of Sanderstead, in the Diocese of Southwark in 1995.

Commenting on the news of his retirement the Bishop of Southwark, The Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, said: “Chris Skilton has been a dedicated servant to the parishes in his Archdeaconry and to those in Lambeth prior to this.

We will greatly miss his wisdom and good humour but we wish Chris and Barbara a long and happy retirement”.