Luke Irvine-Capel

Luke Thomas Irvine-Capel SSC (né Capel; born 1975) is a British Church of England bishop serving as Bishop of Richborough since 2025 — as such he provides alternative episcopal oversight to Anglicans in the Eastern half of the Province of Canterbury who reject the ministry of women.

He is married to Ruth, a teacher. They have three children. His son was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral in London. In the summer of 2002, his surname changed from Capel to Irvine-Capel, following his marriage to Ruth Irvine, who also uses the surname Irvine-Capel.

Ordained ministry Irvine-Capel was ordained in the Church in Wales by David Thomas, Provincial Assistant Bishop, the Church's bishop specially appointed to minister to those who cannot accept the ordination of women: he was made deacon at Petertide 2000 (4 July) and ordained priest the Petertide next (2 July 2000). Both ordinations occurred at the Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny. He served his curacy at Abertillery, Cwmtillery, and Six Bells until 2001, then Minor Canon Precentor at Newport Cathedral until 2003.

Irvine-Capel is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC), a society of male Anglo-Catholic priests who live under a common rule of life that informs their priestly ministry and charism. On the afternoon of 27 February 2025, he was consecrated as a bishop at Canterbury Cathedral. As with consecration of other traditionalist catholic bishops following the consecration of the first woman as a bishop in the Church of England, the act of consecration was delegated from the archbishop (in this case from Stephen Cotterell, Archbishop of York) to a traditional diocesan: Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, was the principal consecrator, assisted by Paul Thomas, Bishop of Oswestry, and Jonathan Baker, Bishop of Fulham.

Styles Luke Thomas Capel Esquire (1975–1999) The Reverend Luke Thomas Capel SSC (1999–2002) The Reverend Luke Thomas Irvine-Capel SSC (2002–2019) The Venerable Luke Thomas Irvine-Capel SSC (2019–2025) The Right Reverend Luke Thomas Irvine-Capel SSC (2025–present)