About the Bishop

The Rt Rev Dorsey McConnell became Acting Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in November 2023. He is the former Bishop of Pittsburgh.

Bishop Dorsey is serving as Acting Bishop during the suspension of The Rt Rev Anne Dyer from the office of Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney while canonical process takes place over complaints lodged against the bishop. Prior to the appointment of Bishop Dorsey, the post of Acting Bishop had been held by Bishop John Armes, who has now returned to full-time duties in the Diocese of Edinburgh.

Bishop Dorsey was appointed Assisting Bishop in the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney in May 2022 with a specific remit in Orkney and Shetland. His role was broadened the following year to encompass the Diocese as a whole.

Bishop Anne was consecrated Bishop on Thursday 1 March, 2018 at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Aberdeen.

Before that, she served as Rector of Holy Trinity church, Haddington in the Diocese of Edinburgh since 2011. Her wider church involvement includes being a member of the Scottish Episcopal Institute Council and a member of General Synod.

Being in the first group of women for each of these Orders, Canon Dyer was ordained Deacon in 1987 and Priest in 1994 in Rochester. She served as Warden of Cranmer Hall, Durham and before that was Ministry Development Officer in the Diocese of Rochester. Prior to ordination  Bishop Anne read Chemistry at St Anne’s College, Oxford and was a Business Systems Analyst with Unilever before training for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and studying theology at King’s College London.