The editor of the Anglican Communion News Service, Gavin Drake, is to be the next Director for Communications for the Anglican Communion. Gavin Drake, who has a long track record as a respected journalist, also has extensive experience in communications and public relations, having previously worked as Senior Communications Officer for the Evangelical Alliance in the UK and Director of Communications for the Church of England’s Diocese of Lichfield. He will succeed Adrian Butcher when he stands down next month.

Gavin Drake’s experience in journalism began with the contemporary Christian music magazine Cross Rhythms. He moved on to cover Devon and Cornwall as a news journalist for many of Britain’s national newspapers, television and radio stations before moving into public relations. After 15 years in PR, including several years as a consultant for political groups and Christian charities, he returned to journalism in 2011. During this time he provided occasional cover as editor of the Anglican Communion Service, including 16 months as interim editor, from October 2015 to January 2017. He was appointed full time editor of ACNS in December 2017.

“I am deeply honoured to have been asked to serve as the Anglican Communion’s Director for Communications”, he said. “I have enjoyed working with Adrian Butcher and I am pleased with the improvements we have been able to implement. I look forward to developing communications further, both in the run-up to the Lambeth Conference in 2020 and beyond it.”

Welcoming the appointment, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said: “Gavin has a long history of supporting the Anglican Communion.

“His extensive knowledge of the Communion and his many contacts in the Provinces bode well for our future communications work. I look forward to working more closely with him in the months and years ahead.”