Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander (born 29 March 1959) is a British-Canadian Anglican bishop. She is a former Bishop of Edmonton, a bishop of the Anglican Church of Canada. She was installed on May 11, 2008, at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral.

Until her consecration as a bishop, Alexander served as Dean of Edmonton and Rector of All Saints' Cathedral. She is the first female diocesan bishop to succeed another female diocesan bishop in the Anglican Communion.

On 26 January 2020, Alexander announced her resignation as Bishop of Edmonton effective 31 July 2020. However, on 17 March 2020, she postponed her resignation until 31 December 2020 citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Her resignation as Bishop of Edmonton took effect on 16 April 2021.

Early life and teaching career Alexander grew up in England and attended Brunts Grammar School in Mansfield. As a child, she was forbidden from attending any religious classes at school by her father. It was not until she was 25 that she was baptized with her eldest child in the Church of England. Before her ordination to the episcopate, she was involved in a movement to eliminate poverty in Edmonton caused by inequality. According to statistical data, it is the most unequal province in the country. She took leadership in a Call To End Poverty in Edmonton leading to coming up with concrete proposals on many fronts, including early childhood education, daycare, living wage, affordable transit and job training.

Episcopate In 2007, Bishop Victoria Matthews resigned as Bishop of Edmonton and Alexander became diocesan administrator in her capacity as dean of the diocese. She was elected to be the next bishop on 8 March 2008 on the third ballot.

Consecrators The Most Reverend John Robert Clarke, 10th Archbishop of Athabasca and 15th Metropolitan of Rupert's Land The Right Reverend Gregory Kerr-Wilson, 11th Bishop of Qu'Appelle (Previously Dean of Edmonton and Rector of All Saints' Cathedral) The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews (9th Bishop of Edmonton; Bishop-Elect of Christchurch Diocese, New Zealand)