 Stirling served the people of the Falkland Islands for 30 years, later becoming Canon of Wells Cathedral.Until well into the twentieth century, the Bishop of the Falkland Islands had episcopal authority over the whole of South America, until power shifted to the Bishop of Argentina.In 1982, the Argentinian episcopal authority over the Falkland Islands was abolished; today the Rector of the Cathedral reports directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury and receives pastoral guidance from the Archbishop's Commissary, who since September 2017 has been Tim Thornton, Bishop to the Forces.