[Ely Announce] Hundreds of parishioners expected at Bishop's farewell

[Owen Spencer-Thomas]

Hundreds of local parishioners expected at Bishop's farewell 
      All-Age Eucharist for Bishop John as he leaves the Diocese for Worcester 
      Hundreds of people from parishes across Cambridgeshire and north west Norfolk are expected to attend a packed Ely Cathedral next Saturday to bid farewell to Bishop Dr John Inge who leaves the diocese to become the new Bishop of Worcester. 

      The congregation will celebrate the life and mission of the Ely Diocese and give thanks for the Bishop's outstanding ministry and contribution to Diocesan life at a special All-Age Eucharist service at 2.00 pm on Saturday 1st December. 

      Tributes to Bishop John's ministry have been arriving from across the Diocese praising his deep sense of commitment and warm, friendly approach. 

      Bishop John Inge, who has served in the diocese for eleven years, was appointed last July by Her Majesty the Queen to become the new Bishop of Worcester. The Bishop, who previously served in the Diocese of Newcastle, came to the Ely Diocese in 1996. He was a Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral from 1996 to 2003, and was consecrated as the Bishop of Huntingdon on 9th October 2003. 

      "Bishop John has served this Diocese with energy, dedication and wisdom," said the Bishop of Ely, Dr Anthony Russell. "His ministry has been greatly appreciated by the parishes and by the clergy. He is known as an engaging preacher and a sensitive pastor. 

      "It is very sad for us to lose the considerable contribution that Bishop John has continued to make to the life of this Diocese over the last eleven years," he added. "However, his many gifts and talents will be greatly appreciated in the Diocese of Worcester, and in the life of the wider Church." 

      Bishop John said, "It will be a great wrench to leave Ely after eleven extremely happy years here. Ely is a wonderful diocese in which I have made very many friends and a big part of my heart will always remain here. 

      "However, I was ordained to serve the Church wherever I was called and it is a great honour to have been asked to become Bishop of Worcester. All the good things that I have seen done in the name of Christ here encourage me to go forward in hope and faith. I ask for everyone's prayers for all that lies ahead." 


      Tributes to Bishop John Inge's ministry include warm appreciation from: 

      . Cambridge:

      The Vicar of Great St Mary's Church and Rural Dean of Cambridge North, Canon Dr John Binns, said, "Bishop John always takes an interest in what you are doing, he is very supportive and is sensitive in picking up any concerns you might have. He is always good humoured and has all the best qualities of a good parish minister in preaching the Gospel, giving pastoral care and in his concern for the quality of people's lives. He has a remarkable ability to retain, express and communicate these qualities despite having to work often in a bureaucratic and highly pressurised setting. He is a friend as well as a pastor to all those in his care." 

      . the Wisbech/March area:

      Last summer Bishop John Inge led a mission week at the parishes of Emneth and Marshland St James; Elm and Friday Bridge with Coldham. Their Vicar, the Revd Dawn Mason, said, "Bishop John has endeared himself to many here - we especially have fond memories of Bishop John's part in our mission week - his inimitable and wonderful sense of humour, his joy, his openness and honesty and his great heart for mission. We feel, as one, that it is Worcester's gain and our loss but what he leaves is something to build on for the future - he leaves with our heartfelt thanks. 

      . the South Cambridgeshire area:

      The Rural Dean of Shingay and Rector of the Shingay Group of Parishes, Canon Shamus Williams, said, "Bishop John has a great gift of putting people at ease and great wisdom in understanding of the everyday life of people and parishes. His good sense of judgement, coupled with his gentle sense of humour, has benefited many people. Last year he visited our deanery to speak about the Healing Ministry and this has borne fruit. Only last week my group of parishes held its first healing service." 

      . the Huntingdon/St Ives area:

      The Rural Dean of St Ives and Rector of Somersham with Pidley and Old Hurst, the Revd Christopher Barter, said, "Bishop John is so very approachable and accessible and is able to make an immediate response to pastoral and administrative problems. He is always cheerful, with a ready smile. When talking to him, I always feel uplifted. He has a way of making people feel at ease and his good sense of humour is always at the heart of things." 

      In addition to his responsibilities within the Diocese, Bishop John Inge has been a strong supporter of Common Purpose (an international leadership organisation that runs programmes for leaders of all ages, sectors and backgrounds). He has a keen interest in international affairs and has fostered links both with Zanzibar in Africa and Vellore in India whilst in the Diocese. 

      He was one of the finalists in the Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing in 2005. His publications include A Christian Theology of Place (Ashgate, 2003) and Living Love: In Conversation with the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency (Inspire, 2007). 

      Bishop John is married to Denise, a writer and distinguished authority on the 17th-century poet Thomas Traherne. They have two children, Eleanor (8) and Olivia (3). He is a keen cyclist and swimmer. He enjoys reading, drama, music, and travel. 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

      For details and more information: 

      Canon Owen Spencer-Thomas 
      Bishops' Press Officer 
      52 Windsor Road 
      Cambridge 
      CB4 3JN 

      Mobile: 07801 492151 
      E-mail: owenst at btinternet.com 


      25th November 2007
      Ref 0781