The Revd Canon Sam Corley, Rector of Leeds and Bishop-Designate of Stockport
The Revd Canon Sam Corley was licensed as Rector of Leeds in 2015. He is the former Precentor of Bradford Cathedral, a role he took up in 2011. He was also Senior Chaplain to the University of Bradford and Faith Advisor to the Lord Mayor of Bradford.
Sam read theology at the University of Durham and taught history in Surrey before training for the ministry at St John’s College Nottingham.
The Bishop of Leeds, Nick Baines thanked Sam for his ten years of energetic service in the region: “Sam has served the Diocese of Leeds and the wider Church of England in a variety of capacities with great diligence, wisdom, and generosity.
“He has inspired many people to greater vision and ministry within and beyond the Church. His appointment to the See of Stockport is wonderful for the Church, the wider community in the Diocese of Chester, and the bishops nationally.
“I am very sorry to be losing him but very confident that his ministry will continue to grow in the future.”
Sam addressing children at Sir Thomas Boteler High School
In 2004 he was ordained in the Diocese of Blackburn, where he became a parish priest and Assistant Diocesan Missioner. Sam says he’s comfortable in a wide range of worship contexts - including leading worship for 2000 scouts in a cowshed at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
He enjoys working with people of all faiths, backgrounds, and ages and has lots of experience of working with young people, having led over 30 residential holidays for teenagers.
Since 2009 Sam has been a Bishops’ Advisor and Panel Secretary for Bishops’ Advisory Panels - the national process by which candidates are selected for ordination. More recently he has been an Executive Member and Director of the Association of English Cathedrals and has delivered training in governance for clergy and laypeople who are new to their roles in leading Cathedrals.
Sam is married to Claire, who is herself in ordained ministry within the Church of England, and they have three children.
Having spent much of his childhood working on a farm, Sam also has a deep love of the countryside and nature.
Sam spent much of his childhood working on a farm and has a deep love for the countryside.