Venerable Karen Best

Karen is a Senior Leader in the Church of England. She was ordained in 1994 beginning her ministerial life in the Diocese of London with some time as a Prison Chaplain there.

Some years later, Karen had responsibility for parishes in Rochester and in Chelmsford Diocese where she was Bishop’s Lay Discipleship Advisor in the Bradwell Episcopal Team leading lay ministry in the diocese.

She is currently the Archdeacon of Manchester since 2017.

Karen has always had a passion for people and loves most when she is able to support others in the day to day lives and to support them spiritually. Her faith underpins her whole life and ethics and she describes herself as a work in progress.

She considers herself a pioneer by accident and design and appreciates the opportunities she has to model leadership as a Global Majority Heritage woman and a Christian Mystic.

Her hobbies and interests include basket weaving, horse riding, plant-based cooking and trees.