Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham to retire after 10 years in post

The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy (65) has announced he is to retire next year, on August 31st 2009, when he will have completed 10 years in post.

Bishop George was consecrated as the 10th 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.

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: “It is hard to envisage the diocese without the fantastic contribution women clergy are making at every level, parish, deanery and diocesan. I have also seen a developing sense of partnership and collaboration across the diocese which has made greater avenues into the public square.”

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.”

“By next year I will have served 10 years in a demanding job which has been a great trust and privilege, but there is a relentlessness about the role. I’m conscious that a younger person with new energy will help lead the team in meeting all the challenges arising in the years ahead. Bishops are encouraged to give good advance notice to enable smooth transition in the appointment process and in due course everyone within the diocese, and everyone involved in city and county life will have an opportunity to make a contribution to the process of finding a new bishop.”

The Bishop and his wife Mrs Jane Cassidy, will be retiring to Jane’s home county of Somerset. 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