The Bishop's Letter

Bishop’s Letter for February

This month Bishop David writes:

As many of you will know, I will be leaving the Diocese in the late Spring and moving to accommodation that is being provided for me in Salisbury.

Farewells and goodbyes are always demanding, difficult and sometimes quite painful. This is because (of course) relationships have been established which are precious and immensely valued. And that has been the case in great measure for me over the past 8 or more years since I came to Sheffield in November 2001. I have been so grateful for the warmth of affection that you have shown me – a reflection in a wondrous way of the love of God in Christ. The privilege – immense – of being with so many of you at your Confirmations and Ordinations – praying for the gift of God Himself to be given to you, and then even more, seeing that manifest itself in you and to others. To share in Ministry Reviews and to be encouraged by your conviction of your calling to serve God and of your desire to see His Kingdom grow both in quality of life, revealing the fruits and gifts of the Spirit, and in quantity too. (Never despise numbers – for those who do not worry about numbers soon have no numbers to worry about!) And to see exciting developments at Parish and Deanery level in these exciting but demanding days of Pastoral Reorganisation, reflecting the leading and guiding of God the Holy Spirit in and through His Church.

And to be privileged to work particularly closely with colleagues on the Bishop’s Staff. That has been an exciting, stimulating and humbling experience and the Diocese of Sheffield is privileged to have such a spiritual and gifted group. It all started because of a longstanding friendship with Bishop Jack going back over 30 years when we worked together on a number of projects in the Diocese of Manchester. Then, when we left there – me to be an Archdeacon in Wakefield Diocese, and him soon after the be Bishop of Lancaster, to keep up that association by going on retreat together now for 20 years or more, and then to be welcomed by him to share in the Episcopal role here has given me such joy and fulfilment. And now, with Bishop Steven (we knew each other when we worked together in Halifax), and to see such an exciting start to his Episcopal ministry with such prayerfully thought-through strategy – makes me wish I was some years younger to be able to stay and be a further part of it all. You are in for exciting, if at times daunting, times.

But always there comes the time to move on – and this seems to be now for me. You will always be in my prayers and I will follow with great interest how God leads you. Together, let us always “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all else will be added to you”. (Good Lenten Text!!)

God’s richest blessing be yours – I can pray you nothing better.

+David 

So many have rung or written to see if I can visit before I leave it is impossible to fulfil all the kind invitations. One solution might be that Bishop Steven and the Dean have kindly offered me a farewell service in the Cathedral on Sunday 25th April at 6.30 p.m.  It would be lovely to see you there.