Bishop A. Robert “Rob” Hirschfeld

Denomination: The Episcopal Church (TEC)
Organization: Episcopal Church of New Hampshire

Bishop A. Robert “Rob” Hirschfeld has served as the Tenth Bishop of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire since August 2012, providing spiritual oversight to 46 congregations and eight seasonal chapels across the state. As bishop, he is recognized for his steady pastoral leadership, commitment to shared ministry, and deep engagement with local congregations in a region shaped by both independence and strong community identity. He also serves as President, ex officio, of the Board of Trustees at Holderness School, supporting its educational and spiritual mission.

Prior to his election as bishop, Bishop Hirschfeld served as rector of Grace Church in Amherst, Massachusetts; St. Mark’s Chapel at the University of Connecticut in Storrs; and Christ Church in New Haven, Connecticut. His ministry has consistently bridged parish life, academic communities, and the wider public witness of the church, grounding theological reflection in lived experience and pastoral practice.

Bishop Hirschfeld earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College, where he studied English and French, and his Master of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He later received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School in recognition of his contributions to the church and its leadership.

In addition to his episcopal ministry, Bishop Hirschfeld is the author of two books, With Sighs Too Deep for Words: Grace and Depression and Without Shame or Fear: From Adam to Christ, which explore themes of grace, identity, and Christian hope. He is married to Polly M. Ingraham, and together they have three children. Outside of ministry, he reads and occasionally writes poetry, paints in mixed media, and enjoys sculling on the Merrimack River.