Church members, clergy, friends and family will gather in Southwell Minster this month to say farewell to the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham who retires this summer after 10 years in post.

The special service on Sunday 19th July at 3.30pm will be an opportunity to celebrate the Bishop’s time in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham and will be followed by a tea in the garden of Bishop’s Manor in Southwell.

Photo opportunity:
There will be an opportunity for photos of the Bishop and Jane at the end of the service in the Minster at approximately 4.45pm on Sunday 19th July 2009.

Bishop George was consecrated as the10th Bishop of Southwell on September 11th 1999. He later became the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, when the name of the diocese was changed in 2005 to incorporate the city into the title – a move which he was instrumental in bringing about and supported fully.

Looking back on almost a decade in the job, the Bishop said: “It’s been a privilege to be in such a great place, Nottinghamshire is a wonderful county and Nottingham is a buzzing city too. It’s a diocese with a strong focus on mission and an emphasis on sacrificial giving and it has been my privilege to share in the appointment of some marvellous people to key posts over the years.”

During his time in the diocese the Bishop has seen greater lay participation in the community of the church and in its leadership. He also remarked on the development of women’s ministry and the enormous contribution they had made in the life of the church.

He said: “One of the things I was struck by when Jane and I arrived was the warmth of the welcome we received and the hospitality was amazing.” He praised the development of a global vision with the South African Natal Link and paid tribute to his colleagues in the diocese, he added: “I’ve never known a harder working senior team; and my ability to survive on a day to day basis has only been possible by having tremendous support from my chaplain, personal assistant and secretary who do so much of the work behind the scenes.”

Further afield the Bishop has been actively involved in the national church and his role in the House of Lords has seen him giving voice to the most vulnerable on behalf of communities and causes – including promoting family life and flexible working and taking forward significant developments in the Mental Health Act. In tribute to his work in this area Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre is to name their new Mental Health Suite after the Bishop.

The Bishop and his wife Mrs Jane Cassidy, will be retiring to Jane’s home county of Somerset later this month. He said: “I am looking forward to being involved with the diocese (Bath & Wells) and parish life as well as some national interests which I will maintain. But I am particularly looking forward to giving Jane a little more love, care and attention to compensate for much of my neglect over the years in full time ministry! I will also be very happy to have more time for the wider family, including my three grandchildren.”

Ends