Bishop Damien Mead
The Ecclesiastical Armorial Bearings of the Right Reverend Damien Mead, KStG, DipTh, HonDD, FVCM(Th), MSGB, MIoD.
BLAZON: Impaled; Dexter: Azure a depiction of Our Lady of Walsingham standing with 12 mullets in orle Or. (Anglican Catholic Church, Diocese of The United Kingdom) Viz: Sinister: Sable upon a torse fesswise Azure and Or a pelican in her piety Or. For a motto, “Toujours Pret” translating to “Always Ready”. Surmounted by a Mitre.
Our Bishop, Damien Mead, was born in 1968 in Chatham, Kent and raised and educated in Canterbury. He began his Christian Ministry in 1990, serving congregations in London and Whitstable before joining the Anglican Catholic Church (ACC) in January 1999. After he received ordination, sub-conditione, in the ACC in June 1999, he served as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Walsingham and St Francis of Assisi, Rochester, Kent and then, in May 2005 he established the parish of St Augustine of Canterbury, in the City of Canterbury. In November 2001 he was appointed as Diocesan Dean, this was followed in April 2004 by his appointment as Diocesan Vicar General.
In March 2008 the Electoral Synod of the Diocese of the United Kingdom elected, the then, Father Damien, to become the next Bishop of our Diocese. This election was ratified by the Metropolitan Archbishop and the College of Bishops of the Original Province around the world, and he was duly consecrated as a Bishop and appointed and enthroned as the Second Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the United Kingdom, on 20th September 2008.
The Right Revd Rommie Michael Starks, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Midwest, USA, Episcopal Visitor to the DUK (Chief Consecrator representing the Archbishop) was assisted by The Right Revd Roger Dawson, Retired Bishop in the Patrimony of the Metropolitan, and The Right Revd Dennis Hodge, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
Bishop Mead, as with all ACC Clergy in our Diocese is bi-vocational and non-stipendiary. In his secular career he has, since August 2000, worked as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Credo Care Limited, an Independent Fostering Agency specialising in the care of children and young people with disabilities and complex medical needs. Prior to that he worked in retail and residential social work. In November 2022, Bishop Damien and ACC layman, Mr Roy Hipkiss, who co-founded Credo Care, were awarded The Cross of Merit from the Internationale Pestalozzi Gesellschaft (International Pestalozzi Society) in Switzerland, for services to children with disabilities.
Bishop Mead holds a Diploma in Theology and a Fellowship in Theology from Victoria College, London. In October 2020 he had conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of Divinity (Hon.DD) by the Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Christian University, in Miami, Florida, USA. He is a long-standing member of the British Institute of Directors.
He is a Life member of the Royal Society of St George, A Life Member of The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children and a Life Member of the Guild of All Souls. For 25 years, until May 2024, he served as Chairman of the Kent Group of the Constitutional Monarchy Association. Â He is also a Member of the Royal British legion and a supporter of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
In August 2021 he was appointed an Officer in the Order of St George and in January 2022 was informed by the Grand Prior that he was to be elevated to Knight of the Order. The investiture was duly held in May 2022 in Rochester Cathedral.
On 23rd February 2022, Bishop Mead was recognised by Andy Beshear, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA, for his philanthropic work, especially in the provision of foster care for disabled children, and commissioned him, Honourable Damien Mead, Kentucky Colonel and aide-de-camp to the Governor.
In August 2022 he became the 25th Lord of the Manor of Eastbourne Medsey (formerly Meades), Sussex and is a member of the Manorial Society of Great Britain.
On 8th September 2022, in the morning before the announcement of the late Queen’s death, the Court of Common Council of the City of London, issued an order confirming Bishop Damien’s nomination of admittance as a Free Man of the City of London. This honourable and ancient privilege of the Freedom of the City of London was bestowed in the Court of the Chamberlain at the Guild Hall in London on Monday 9th January 2023.
Bishop Damien lives on the Romney Marsh in Kent and in addition to his Church work and work for Credo Care Ltd is kept busy with his two Miniature Jack Russell dogs, Daisy and Minnie, and also keeps chickens.
Main Gallery
Bishop Mead’s Consecration
20th September 2008
St Augustine’s College Chapel, Westgate on Sea, Kent
The Gospel is proclaimed Bishop Damien Mead’s Consecration on 20th September 2008 in St Augustine’s College Chapel, Westgate on Sea, Kent. The Rev Dom Philip-James French, OSB, who deaconed the Mass, sings the Gospel.
Bishop Starks preached The Right Revd Rommie Michael Starks, chief Consecrator, and Episcopal Visitor to the Diocese of the United Kingdom, preached.
The Testimonials & Protocols are read The Revd Raymond Thompson, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Walsingham & St Francis of Assisi, Rochester, Kent, and Diocesan Vice Chancellor representing the Provincial Registrar, reads the Testimonials and Protocols of Bishop Mead’s election
Bishop Elect lays prostrate Bishop Elect Mead lays prostrate during the singing of the ancient hymn “Come Holy Ghost”
The Book of Gospels The Revd Dom Philip James French, Parish Priest of St Ninian’s Church, Whitby, N Yorks (who deaconed the Mass) and The Rev Charles Johnson, Parish Priest of St Alban the Martyr, Salford, Manchester, (who subdeaconed) hold the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Elect Meads head.
The Consecration The Right Revd Rommie Michael Starks, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Midwest, USA, Episcopal Visitor to the DUK (Chief Consecrator representing the Archbishop) was assisted by The Right Revd Roger Dawson, Retired Bishop in the Patrimony of the Metropolitan, and The Right Revd Dennis Hodge, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
Anointed with Sacred Chrism The new Bishop has his head …
Bishop Meads Hands are Anointed and hands annointed with the Holy Oil of Chrism.
The new Bishops first blessing The new Bishop gives his first blessing by tradition, urbi et orbi, to the City and the World.
Taking possession of the Diocese Bishop Starks seats Bishop Mead in his Faldstool …
Bishop Mead is enthroned … and then together with the assisting bishops enthrone Bishop Mead as he formally takes possession of the Diocese of the United Kingdom
The Mass Bishop Starks, having continued with the Mass, displays the Sacred Host to the congregation
The Communion of the people The Communion of the people begins
The Choir We were very pleased to have the Choir of Emmanual Church, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham singing for us. The 14 strong Choir was conducted by their director Mr Richard Mason and the Organist was Mr Roger Wilcock.
The Procession Marking the formal end of the Consecration Service the Altar Party left the Church …
Blessings Bishop Mead returned to the Sanctuary to give his blessing on those who came forward to reverence the new bishop. Here Bishop Dawson receives a blessing.
Blessings 2 Mrs Marilyn Grainger, a foster carer of disabled children, who works for Credo Care Ltd, the Independent Fostering Agency that Bishop Mead founded in 2000 for disabled children and those with serious medical needs receives her blessing.
Photo opportunity The Episcopal Altar Party after the Service
The Sanctuary Party The Bishops, Clergy, and Servers: L-R: The Venerable Joseph DeHart, The Rev Dom Philip-James French, OSB, Bishop Denis Hodge, The Rev Chris Bosworth, Bishop Rommie Starks, Mr Derek Lane (behind with Cross), Mr Richard Mann, Bishop Damien Mead, The Rev Tim Perkins, Bishop Roger Dawson, Mr Barry Capper, The Rev Charles Johnson & The Rev Raymond Thompson.
The Choir, Organist and Piper The Bishops with the Choir. From the far right: Pipe Major John Spoore RVM, formerly Personal Piper to her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The Organist, Mr Roger Wilcock and fifth from right wearing the green hood, the Choir Director Mr Richard Mason
Bishop Mead’s family Bishop Mead is pictured with his parents, sister and other family members.
Relaxed moment A relaxed momment: Bishop Mead with Mrs Beryl Fielding, one of his friends who attended the Consecration
The new Bishop As he poses for photographs Bishop Mead allows himself to relax and you can see in his smile the joy he has on such a wonderful occasion
The reception A Reception in the Oak Room at St Augustine’s College folowed the Consecration with a substantial buffet and refreshments provided.
The Cake The Cake presented to Bishop Mead at the Reception
A shower of gifts! Diocesan Secretary Dr Roy Fidge presents Bishop Mead with the gift of a Bugia Candlestick from the Diocese for the use of the Bishops Ordinary.
and still more gifts! Diocesan Treasurer, Mr Richard Mann, on behalf of the Diocese, presented Bishop Mead with the gift for himself of a small statue of St Peter enthroned.