Bishop of Bristol to retire in September

THE Bishop of Bristol since 2018, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, is to retire on 1 September, she has announced. The Archbishop of York granted her permission to remain in office after she turned 70, in May, to ordain new deacons and priests in the summer. Bishop Faull is a member of the House of Lords, and, since 2021, a Church Commissioner, and one of the lead bishops for church buildings. She was the first woman to train for ordination at St John’s College, Nottingham. She was admitted as a deaconess in 1982, ordained as a deacon in 1987, and, in 1994, was among the first women to be ordained priest. In 2000, she became Provost (subsequently Dean) of Leicester, the first woman to head the Chapter of an English cathedral. For three years, from 1987, and later for a further eight years until becoming Dean of York in 2012, she served on the General Synod. “After 42 years in full-time ministry as deaconess, deacon, priest, and bishop, the time has come for a rest,” she says. “I have revelled in each of the places and communities to which God has called me, and have been enriched by them all.”

Bishop of Grimsby to retire in July

THE Suffragan Bishop of Grimsby, in the diocese of Lincoln, since 2014, Dr David Court, is to retire at the end of July. He studied at Southampton University and gained his doctorate there before training at Oak Hill Theological College. He was ordained priest in 1992, and served his title at Barton Seagrave with Warkton, in Peterborough diocese, before moving to Salisbury diocese. From 1997 until his present appointment, he served in parish ministry in Norwich diocese, and was also an Hon. Canon of Norwich Cathedral.

Church in Wales to review same-sex provision

THE Church in Wales is preparing to revisit its stance on the blessing of same-sex couples as the time-limited provision introduced in October 2021 nears its expiry date in September 2026. The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, called for a period of prayerful discernment and open dialogue as the Church explored potential paths forward. Options include allowing the provision to lapse, extending the current blessings, or introducing a formal service of marriage for same-sex couples. He said: “I wish to stress the purpose of these meetings is to listen — respectfully and attentively. We believe there is wisdom in this kind of approach which allows different voices to be expressed and heard without comment or censure.”

Stolen Cross of St Augustine returned to priest

A RETIRED priest in the diocese of Salisbury, Canon Bruce Duncan, has been reunited with his Cross of St Augustine, which was stolen six years ago, the Salisbury Journal reports. The Cross, awarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury, then Lord Williams, in November 2004, was taken, as well as Canon Duncan’s 1993 MBE medal for services to young people, from his home in Harnham in 2019. His MBE was replaced within a year. The Cross was returned on his 87th birthday last month by a Lichfield antiques dealer, Adam Northwood, who bought it in a job lot on eBay, identified it as stolen, and worked with police to return it. Canon Duncan said: “I’m so grateful to Adam and the police. . . Adam very generously sent it to me by secure delivery. I was delighted. I never expected to see it again.”