Jo Stobart is to be the next Archdeacon of Wells and Residentiary Canon of Wells Cathedral. She will succeed Anne Gell who stepped down earlier this month after nine years in the role. Jo will be returning to Bath and Wells in the late autumn.
Bishop Michael said, “I am thrilled that Jo is coming home. She is someone with huge ability, who loves our diocese, loves Somerset and rural ministry. I am absolutely delighted to welcome her back with us as the new Archdeacon of Wells.”
Speaking on her appointment, Jo, who is currently Chaplain to the Bishop of Exeter, said, “I am overjoyed and honoured to be the next Archdeacon of Wells and Residentiary Canon of Wells Cathedral. The call to serve in this role was a tug at my vocational heart strings that I could not ignore.
“There will be much for me to learn, but I am looking forward to supporting the parishes of the Wells Archdeaconry, getting to know its people and places, and joining in with the joyful mission of the Cathedral. My husband Ian is a Reader and, as someone whose ministry began as a lay chaplain, I am a passionate advocate for shared ministry and finding ways in which we can further enable all God’s people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The golden thread running through my whole working life has been teaching and learning, especially with children and young people, so I’m looking forward to finding ways to bring that focus to my new role.
“On a personal note, I was enjoying singing lessons in Ilminster before we moved to Exeter, so I’m hoping I might persuade someone at the Cathedral to teach me how to sing the Eucharistic Prayer!”
Toby Wright, the Dean of Wells, said of Jo’s appointment, “With a love of the area, and a wealth of skills, we are richly blessed that Jo will be becoming a part of our praying community and serve on Chapter. From a diverse and gifted field, Jo was clearly the right person to come and work with us at the Cathedral, and across the diocese and it will be wonderful to welcome her, and her family among us.”
Jo was born and grew up in West London. Following a degree and postgraduate study in history in Yorkshire, Jo trained as a primary school teacher and taught at schools in the southeast. She set-up and ran Southwark Cathedral's Education Centre. Having taken time out to focus on looking after her three now grown-up sons, Jo then moved with her family to Bath and Wells in 2006. She later became Lay Chaplain at the Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar, and it was during her time in this role that she entered the discernment process. After part-time training at Sarum College, Jo was ordained deacon at Wells Cathedral in 2015.
Following a curacy in the Yatton Moor Team Ministry, she served as Vicar of Ilminster and Whitelackington, as well as Assistant, and then, Area Dean of Somerset South. During this time, she also studied for an MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture at Sarum College.
Jo has represented Bath and Wells on General Synod, the national assembly of the Church of England since 2021. In 2022 was elected as a central member of the Crown Nominations Commission, the Church of England body that considers diocesan bishop vacancies, and candidates for appointments to them.
In 2025, Jo moved to Devon to take up the post of Chaplain to the Bishop of Exeter. In this role she is part of the Bishop’s Senior Staff. She has retained permission to officiate (PTO) with Bath and Wells.
In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, the arts, walking the family dogs and spending time with loved ones.