Bishop’s new role feels like ‘coming home’

An ex University of Nottingham student will take on a senior role in the Church of England this Saturday when he returns to the county and is welcomed as the new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham – with responsibility for some 150 clergy and more than 300 churches.

The spotlight will be on the Rt Revd Paul Butler, during a special service at Nottinghamshire’s Cathedral – Southwell Minster, where he will be welcomed by more than 1,200 invited guests representing the clergy, people from parishes, along with community and business leaders, friends and colleagues from across the country.

Bishop Paul was appointed as the new Bishop for the diocese in June last year, when he spent the day touring the area and meeting people on an old Nottinghamshire double decker bus.

He said: “I have returned to a county I grew to love – I have a feeling that this is a ‘coming home’ – there is a sense of completeness to returning to the diocese in which my vocation and calling were developed. People at Christ Church, Chilwell, where I worshipped whilst at the University, have prayed for me ever since I left and I’m enjoying meeting up again with old friends and colleagues.”

Drummers, dancers and children waving flags will all form part of the colourful and dramatic service, which will include the Bishop’s arrival, when he knocks on the huge West doors of the Cathedral, to be welcomed by the Dean. Later in the service the Bishop will be placed in his own chair or ‘cathedra’, symbolising his role as teacher and towards the end of the service he will be handed the ancient diocesan pastoral staff - made from a narwhal’s (arctic whale) tusk for the very first Bishop of Southwell. This crosier, or Bishop’s crook, will be a symbol of his role as leader and pastor of Christ’s flock in this area.

Bishop Paul said: “My new job represents a huge challenge and I relish it. I want to be out and about across the county and city learning what is happening in both church and community amongst every section of the community. The good news of Jesus Christ is transforming for both individuals and communities; I long to share in the task of making this good news known to people of all ages and backgrounds.”

The Right Reverend Paul Butler was ordained and installed as the Bishop of Southampton in June 2004. After being brought up in Chessington in Surrey, he went on to gain a BA in History and English at the University of Nottingham. After graduating in 1977 he stayed in Nottingham working as a social work assistant, with the elderly and families in Beeston and amongst the county’s former coalfield communities. He then began working for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF), for two years when he travelled extensively across the UK and it was during this time that he began to explore his calling to ordination. He went on to train at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, then served his curacy in the London area. In 1987 he became Inner London Evangelist for Scripture Union, helping churches of all denominations develop outreach work with children, young people and families. In 1994 he returned to parish work full-time in Walthamstow, becoming Team Rector of Walthamstow in 1997 until 2004. He said the biggest joy in his time in the parish was seeing people come to and grow in Christian faith, and developing lay involvement on a wide level.
 
As Bishop of Southampton, Paul has been responsible for the Southern area of Winchester Diocese. He has been out and about in parish and community a great deal, including a regular programme of parish visits and an annual Prayer Walk. He loves preaching and teaching and has led an annual teaching series in Lent and an annual Quiet Day. Bishop Paul has always been passionate about being part of the world church, with a  particular interest in and commitment to Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. His work with children has spanned the whole of his ministry and he ran (until 2004) an annual Scripture Union camp for children each year in Kent, which he said was instrumental in helping his own children and many others establish their faith.

Bishop Paul is an author; he has published a number of booklets and three books:
'Reaching Children' (1992), 'Reaching Families' (1995) (both Scripture Union); Temptation &Testing (SPCK 2007). He is currently chair of CMS (Church Mission Society). He is married to Rosemary, a nurse and midwife by profession who in recent years has been workling as a Teacher Assistant and Art Technician. They have four children:Caroline, an Archaeologist; David and Andrew at university and Sarah studying for her GCSEs. His  interests include reading, writing, travel, gardening and music. He has played cricket for Winchester Diocese in the last few years and wonders if there might be a clergy cricket team in Southwell & Nottingham in the future. He enjoys watching most sports when he has the time and is engaged in social networking through the internet with his own Facebook page!

There will be further opportunities for people to meet Bishop Paul at two additional welcome services in March. The first will be at St Mary’s, Nottingham on Sunday 7th March and the second will be at Worksop Priory on Sunday 14th March - both services will start at 4pm and all are welcome.

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