| Type: | Bishop |
| Honorific Prefix: | The Right Reverend |
| Sophie Jelley | |
| Bishop of Doncaster | |
| Church: | Church of England |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Sheffield |
| Term: | 2020–present |
| Predecessor: | Peter Burrows |
| Other Post: | Bishop-designate of Coventry (to take office spring 2025) |
| Ordination: | 1997 (deacon); 1998 (priest) |
| Consecration: | 21 September 2020 |
| Consecrated By: | Stephen Cottrell |
| Birth Name: | Sophie Rebecca Capitanchik |
| Religion: | Anglican |
| Spouse: | Chris |
| Children: | three |
| Alma Mater: | Leeds University Wycliffe Hall, Oxford |
Sophie Rebecca Jelley (Capitanchik; born 1972) is a British Anglican bishop. Since September 2020, she has been Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield. In November 2024 she was announced as the next Bishop of Coventry, to take up the post in spring 2025.
Jelley was born in 1972, and was raised in Brighton, East Sussex, England.[1] She studied theology and religious studies at the University of Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1993. She trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford,[2] and also studied theology (specialising in Christian doctrine) at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in 1997.
Jelley was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in Bradford Cathedral in 1997.[3] The following year, in 1998, she was ordained as a priest. From 1997 to 2000, she undertook her curacy at St Peter's Church, Shipley in the Diocese of Bradford. She then served in Uganda with the Church Mission Society, where she was based at the Uganda Christian University.[4]
Previously, she served as Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry in the Diocese of Durham and Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral since 2015. Before joining Durham, she ministered in the Dioceses of Bradford, Guildford and Chichester, and in Uganda with the Church Mission Society.[5] [6] [7]
In December 2019, it was announced that she would be the next Bishop of Doncaster, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Sheffield.[8] She was due to be consecrated a bishop on Lady Day 2020 (25 March); but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was instead licensed ad interim as "Bishop of Doncaster designate and Principal Commissary of the Bishop of Sheffield" that day.[9] She was consecrated a bishop during a service on 21 September at York Minster:[10] the principal consecrator was Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, who was assisted by Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham and Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield.[11]
On 4 November 2024, it was announced that Jelley had been appointed as the next Bishop of Coventry, to take up the position in spring 2025.[12]