The Venerable Clarence Edgar Bester, currently Archdeacon of Wangaratta (Ministry Development) and Vicar of the parish of Wangaratta West and the Warbys, has been elected as the Eleventh Bishop of Wangaratta.
The Diocese of Wangaratta covers North-East Victoria and the City of Albury in New South Wales.
Clarence commenced ordained ministry in South Africa in the Diocese of Cape Town. He was Archdeacon to the Ordinary and Rector of St. Andrew’s Strand for 12 years, before coming to the parish of Shepparton in Wangaratta in 2015.
Clarence also has international experience in the Diocese of Europe in Strasbourg, Cologne, and Bonn.
During his time in Wangaratta Clarence has been deeply involved in ministry development, clergy development and recruitment and in clergy and lay training as well as exploring new models of ministry for the Diocese.
Clarence, is married to Michelle, a recruitment consultant and they have two sons, Kian and Kyle.
Archdeacon Bester has said of his election, “I am deeply humbled to be elected to serve the Diocese of Wangaratta as the Eleventh Bishop, I look forward to working with the clergy and laity of the Diocese. My experience here is that we have great potential for redefining and redeveloping the ministry of the Diocese of Wangaratta.”
“I have had the sense that God had called me to move from Cape Town to Wangaratta, and I look forward to discerning his continued will for me and for the people of Wangaratta Diocese.”
Clarence’s Consecration will take place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne on Saturday 22nd February at 11.00am and he will be Installed as the Eleventh Bishop of Wangaratta on Sunday 23rd February at 3.00pm at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta.
Yours in Christ,
The Very Rev’d Ken Goodger
Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Wangaratta
