St Martin's cleric Rev Nicholas Holtam to become the Bishop of Salisbury

Published: 22 April 2011
by JOSH LOEB

THE Reverend Nicholas Holtam has overseen many changes during his time as vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields, opposite Trafalgar Square. But he is now preparing to move to “real fields” to take up the post of Bishop of Salisbury.

It is not yet known who will succeed Rev Holtam at St Martin’s, where he has served for 16 years, presiding over a period of growth. 

A stunning new curved glass window by artist Shirazeh Housh­iary was unveiled several years ago at the end of a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the 17th-century place of worship, and its packed programme of concerts and talks has been increased on Rev Holtam’s watch.

“I’ve got fantastic colleagues so the programme is not going to stop because I’m going,” he said. 

“The team is a really strong one and, of course, the building renewal project has been achieved and paid for. The number of activities and facilities and people who are involved with St Martin’s has grown. 

“It’s really lovely to see that and it will serve the church well.”

Rev Holtam was reportedly grilled for more than three hours by a 14-strong panel and was then asked to come back for a further round of interviews before being nom­inated for the prestigious bishopry last week.

The 56-year-old, who some deemed “controversial” when he invited the Anglican Communion’s first openly gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson to speak at St Martin’s in 2005, described his time at the church as “a privilege” and “the most extraordinarily wonderful experience” – and he revealed that his association with the church goes back even further than some might think.

As a teenager growing up in north London, Rev Holtam used to cycle down to folk club meetings at St Martin’s.

“When I was 16, the curates served me beer without asking my age,” he said. 

Although the rural plains of Wiltshire might seem a world away from the bustle of the West End, Rev Holtam said there were connections between Salisbury – a diocese with 480 parishes and 200 church schools – and St Martin’s.  

The foundation stone of St Martin’s was laid by the Bishop of Salisbury in 1721.

“The role of the bishop is different to that of a parish priest,” he said, “but I think that deep down some of the structure is very similar.” 

It is expected Rev Holtam – who has four children and whose wife Helen is a committed Quaker – will be consecrated Bishop of Salisbury in July. 

It is unlikely his successor at St Martin’s will be named before 2012.