From the Revd Dr Alan Le Grys
Sir, - Many of Canon Sarah Mullally's friends and former
colleagues will have been delighted and thrilled at the news last
week of her appointment as the new Bishop of Crediton. This is an
excellent appointment, and she will make, I believe, a first-class
bishop.
Nevertheless, many of us will have been disappointed that your
report in the Church Times forgot to mention that Sarah
trained for ministry at the South East Institute for Theological
Education (SEITE), and is, to the best of my knowledge, the first
former SEITE student to become a bishop.
I am sure that this was simply an oversight, but this could have
the unfortunate effect of reinforcing the implicit assumption still
witnessed in some circles that "real clergy" always train in
colleges. Sarah will, in fact, become one of the first bishops to
have undertaken initial ministerial training on a Course; and this
is, surely, something to celebrate.
ALAN LE GRYS
Former Principal of SEITE
2 Blenheim Avenue
Chatham, Kent ME4 6UU