Monteith is the son of Malvern and Molly Monteith, the eldest of two boys and two girls. He was born on 5 June 1968 in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.[1][2][3] He was educated at Portora Royal School, a grammar school in Enniskillen.[1] He studied zoology at the University of Durham, where he was a member of St John's College, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in 1989.[4][1]
In 2002, Monteith moved to the Diocese of Southwark to become Priest-in-Charge of Holy Trinity Church, Wimbledon.[4] He was also Area Dean of Merton between 2004 and 2009.[1] In 2009, there was a reorganisation of parishes in the area, and Holy Trinity joined with two other churches to form the Parish of Merton Priory.[6] Monteith served for a short time as the parish's team rector.[1]
On 11 October 2022, it was announced that the late Queen Elizabeth II had approved Monteith's nomination for election as Dean of Canterbury, and he was appointed by her successor King Charles III on 7 November 2022;[9] his institution took place on 17 December 2022.[10] His appointment has received strong criticism by the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) and the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON), due to Monteith being in a same-sex civil partnership; the Church of England defended his appointment, stating that Monteith lives chastely with his partner.[11]
Personal life
In 2008, Monteith entered into a civil partnership with David Hamilton.[4][12] In a short church biography, Monteith "shares his life in a Civil Partnership with David Hamilton."[13]