Guli Francis-Dehqani, Church of England Bishop: We were outsiders
The Interview22 Jul 2025

Guli Francis-Dehqani, Church of England Bishop: We were outsiders

Bishop Guli is currently the Bishop of Chelmsford, a city in England, but it is also being reported that she’s one of the leading candidates to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury - the most senior bishop in the Church of England.

Although she is keen not to add to any media speculation, if selected, Bishop Guli would be a remarkable choice. Not only would she be the first woman to hold the position in the Church’s long history, but she would also become the first person of Middle Eastern heritage to hold the position too.

Born in Iran, her family came to the UK as refugees after her brother was murdered in the wake of the Iranian Revolution. Edward Stourton, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme, speaks to Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani about her Persian identity and her faith. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Edward Stourton Producers: Ben Cooper, Katy Davis and Lucy Sheppard Editor: Damon Rose

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani. Credit: BBC Radio 4/PA)

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1982)

Navanetham ‘Navi' Pillay, 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner

Navanetham ‘Navi' Pillay, 2026 Nobel Peace Prize winner

“When we suffered under apartheid, those were immoral laws, they institutionalised racism. Where could we go for relief? And I yearned for a better system of law based on values.” Waihiga Mwaura tal...

26 Okt 22min

Cate Blanchett, actor: Art reminds us of our humanity

Cate Blanchett, actor: Art reminds us of our humanity

“There's a toxic narrative around displacement which has been politicised and part of the fund is to re-humanise and make the connection because those people who have the great fortune to be housed, t...

22 Okt 22min

Archbishop Paul Gallagher: Diplomacy means talking to all sides

Archbishop Paul Gallagher: Diplomacy means talking to all sides

“Diplomacy is about talking to lots of people with whom you don't agree. And that's what diplomats do. And I think we would do that... The Vatican has always had very little difficulty, perhaps too li...

20 Okt 23min

Arundhati Roy, author and activist: Writing is universal

Arundhati Roy, author and activist: Writing is universal

“When I was writing it I didn’t think it would touch such a universal chord, you know, because it seemed to me so weird, my childhood and my mother and my life, it was, but of course, everybody has so...

18 Okt 23min

Peter Obi, Nigerian presidential candidate: The last election was rigged

Peter Obi, Nigerian presidential candidate: The last election was rigged

“Nigeria can fight insecurity, head on. It only requires it for the commander-in-chief to be determined that this will end. Those criminals live with us. In our communities, people know them. I will g...

15 Okt 23min

Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Taiwan’s representative to US: We’re prepared for China to invade

Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Taiwan’s representative to US: We’re prepared for China to invade

“We don't have to have a fight, and we don't have to land in China, go to Beijing and win the war. All we have to do is prevent them to getting their objective of landing in Taiwan and conquering. It'...

13 Okt 22min

Meredith Whittaker, Signal president: Privacy is a human right

Meredith Whittaker, Signal president: Privacy is a human right

“Private communication is a fundamental human right for a reason, because when those with power over you have access to your intimate thoughts and your communication, they use those to punish you. The...

11 Okt 22min

Jerry Brown, former California governor: America then and now

Jerry Brown, former California governor: America then and now

BBC special correspondent James Naughtie speaks to former Governor of California, Jerry Brown.He was first elected governor in 1974, succeeding Ronald Reagan, and went on to serve two eight-year terms...

8 Okt 22min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
popradet
aftenpodden-usa
forklart
stopp-verden
det-store-bildet
fotballpodden-2
nokon-ma-ga
hanna-de-heldige
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
rss-gukild-johaug
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik
ukrainapodden
rabona