Bishop of Salisbury bows out

By Mark Jones
BBC Wiltshire

Bishop David finishes his last official duty at the Cathedral

If there was ever a day that had been planned as near perfect, the day the Bishop of Salisbury officially bowed out was one of them.

Ordinations of new priests for the diocese, a big picnic in The Cathedral Close and a final Evensong - all marked the day (Saturday 3rd July).

Also the near precision timing and relatively smooth running of the celebrations added to the occasion.

And if that wasn't enough, the blue skies and sunshine helped too.

Bishop David said: " I've had a great day. Although longer than expected it has been wonderful seeing people who I haven't seen in ages, and those I had no idea were coming today.

"The Archbishop of Latvia is here, Bishop Hilary from the Sudan and Bishop Christian Nourrichard from Evreux in France are also present. Along with a selection of Canons. So it's all very nice."

It was not only a long day for Bishop David, but for the hundreds of people who attended the day which started at 11.00am with the ordination of 24 priests, who came from across Wiltshire and Dorset.

Bishop David in the Cathedral for the last time officially

They included Rev Tim Heaton who said: "He'll be missed, he's been particularly good to me guiding me through the last seven years preparing for ministry.

"My ordination was delayed because I divorced and remarried, and Bishop David tried his very best to work around the rules which he managed to do two years ago when he appointed me as Deacon."

After the ceremony in Salisbury Cathedral, the congregation spilled out on to the lawns of The Close to enjoy a big picnic.

Another new vicar ,the Rev Jennifer Totney from the Westbury area said: "It's a mixed day. Some sadness, but a lot of joy too. He was instrumental in bringing me to this diocese, inviting me to come and work with him. I feel part of his parting gift for the diocese - new priests for the area."

After a long picnic in the warm sunshine people gathered in the cathedral again for the bishop's presentation, including gifts for his wife Sarah.

A very large cheque

The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, the Bishop of Ramsbury, made the presentation. He said: "It has been a joy to share Bishop David's ministry. As he and Sarah leave us, we will celebrate with him all that we have discovered under his leadership about our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ in Wiltshire and Dorset. "

Apart from personal gifts a large cheque for £61,000 was also handed over to Bishop David for a project he's overseen to help build a new theological college in Sudan, a country the diocese has had close ties with.

That total is almost the full amount needed for the college.

Bishop David always seems to be a person with vision, always looking forward and that was made clear in his interview with me before his final official day. He wants to leave the job with great memories, but leave it to Bishop Stephen and the team to carry the diocese forward.

Bishop Stephen, who will take on the role until a successor is found next year, said: "We won't be standing still now, but look forward to further development of our mature discipleship, readying us for whatever God wants of us in the future."

And that's one of the reasons why this Wiltshire man (he was born in Devizes in 1942) is heading to County Durham to leave the diocese behind and so people don't feel he's watching over them constantly.

He said: "Sarah and I have a lovely house in the North East and it's partly down to price. If I want to keep my books and musical instruments then I couldn't afford a house of a certain size in Wiltshire or Dorset."

The day ended with a choral evensong in the grandiose Salisbury Cathedral, and a final sermon from the Bishop.

After 17 years as Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend David Stancliffe will give up his full duties after attending the summer session of the Church of England's legislative body, the General Synod, from 9-13 July.

He hopes to offer input to the debate on the draft legislation for the ordination of women as bishops.

Perhaps another legacy, if a controversial one, to leave behind?