THE Archbishop of Canterbury bade farewell on behalf of the Synod to the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, on his retirement. "We speak of bishops being much loved and respected, but in Tim's case in Leicester that is an inadequate way to describe the affection in which he is held," Archbishop Welby said. Bishop Stevens's leadership was why the diocese was growing. Bishop Stevens had played a key part in the Lords as convener of the Lords Spiritual, steering safely through "some intense and fairly controversial waters". Bishop Stevens's daughter Rachel had died of cancer in January. Archbishop Welby said that, when "we wish and pray for every blessing in the future for Tim and [his wife] Wendy, perhaps we do with more heartfelt fervour than normal".