By Isle of Wight Observer
The Ven Barry Dugmore has been appointed as the new Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, marking a return to the diocese where his ministry first took shape.
Barry, currently Archdeacon Missioner in the Diocese of Coventry, previously worked in pharmaceuticals across Hampshire – a role that often brought him to the Island – and began his spiritual journey within the Diocese of Portsmouth, where he and his wife, Suzanne, worshipped at St John’s in Locks Heath.
Ordained in 2001, he served at St Wilfrid’s, Cowplain, and in Whiteley before moving to Exeter in 2007. He has spent the past six years in Coventry, overseeing mission strategy, clergy appointments, and the development of more than 100 new worshipping communities.
Barry said the appointment “feels like coming home”, adding that the diocese’s vision of being “Jesus‑centred, Kingdom‑seeking” resonated deeply. He said the Island’s blend of rural, coastal and town communities offered “a rich tapestry for ministry”, and that its strong identity and focus on work with children, young people, and older people aligned with his own priorities.
The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Jonathan Frost, welcomed the appointment, describing Barry as someone who brings “rich experience, missional energy and a warm pastoral heart”.
Barry, who was born in Stoke‑on‑Trent, will be licensed during Evensong at Portsmouth Cathedral on Sunday 31 May.
