Dear Friends,

Greetings and I write to express my deep sense of gratitude to all those who were able to attend the Farewell Masses in Manchester Cathedral on the 3rd January and York Minster on the 8th January.  Each individual presence meant so much to me.

I am obviously aware that many people who were intending to attend one of the Masses were prevented from doing so, either due to COVID, colds or disruption to rail travel – what a nuisance!  I am also grateful for the huge number of letters, cards and gifts that I have received – Thank you all very much.

I will be spending January winding up the office here in York.  Ellie Doolan will be continuing to run the office, partly from home and partly from the office.  She will be contactable via her email address: office@seeofbeverley.org.uk  For a quick response, I advise emailing her rather than phoning, as she may not be in the office every day.

I think most people know that during the episcopal vacancy Bishop Tony Robinson will be looking after parishes on the eastern side of the Province and Bishop Philip North those on the western side.  They are happy to be contacted.  They don’t want clergy and parishes to feel bereft of care and support. They can be contacted directly via their PAs or through Ellie.

This is all for now……

Again, thank you, everyone.

Thank you for the immense privilege of being able to try to serve you as your Bishop.

God bless you all,

Glyn

Video of the Mass at Manchester Cathedral - 3 January

Video of the Mass at York Minster - 8 January
 

Photo credit: Duncan Lomax 

Bishop Glyn is thrilled and delighted that The Reverend Canon David Wyatt, Rector of St Paul with Christ Church, Salford and Priest in charge of the Ascension, Lower Broughton and Mrs Helen Wyatt have been jointly honoured in the New Year's Honours List for services to Homeless People and to the community in Salford, Greater Manchester

Bishop Glyn comments:

"Canon and Mrs Wyatt's honour is well deserved and they are to be warmly congratulated by us all for their outstanding, faithful and effective ministry over so many years.  It is a joy to see how highly they are regarded and respected by the people of the community in which they serve."

The Rt Revd Glyn Webster will be retiring from his role as Bishop of Beverley at Epiphany, 6 January 2022.

The Bishop of Beverley is a Suffragan Bishop in the Diocese of York, and a Provincial Episcopal Visitor, assisting in the pastoral care of those parishes that have petitioned for Extended Episcopal Care under the Act of Synod – the Ordination of Women to the Priesthood.

Glyn previously worked as a State Registered Nurse at the Royal Infirmary, Blackburn, before training for the ministry at Cranmer Hall, Durham. After eleven years as Vicar of St Luke’s York, and part-time Senior Chaplain of York District Hospital, he became the full-time Chaplain there. He served as Rural Dean of the Deanery of York for ten years. He was appointed as Canon Treasurer of York Minster in 2000, and appointed as Canon Chancellor in 2003. During vacancies, Glyn twice served as Acting Dean of York Minster.  Glyn was a member of the Crown Nominations Commission and during his time as Prolocutor for the Northern Province, he served on the Archbishops’ Council. In 2010, Glyn was appointed as Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen, which he stepped down from after becoming a Bishop.

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said, “Bishop Glyn’s tireless ministry has been a huge blessing to many people and churches across the north of England.  I pray that in retirement he will find well-deserved rest, as well as new opportunities to serve the gospel he has preached and lived so faithfully over many years of ministry.  He is a wonderful example of the sacrificial and joyful love that is, and will continue to be, needed in order for us to live together well in our diversity and to witness to our unity in Jesus Christ.”

Bishop Glyn said: “As I approach my retirement from stipendiary ministry, I thank all those who I have had the privilege of ministering to.  I am also deeply aware of how much I have received from the many thousands of people I have had contact with in my life as priest and bishop. I pay a particular debt of gratitude to the clergy with whom I have been privileged to serve alongside.

“Serving in the ordained ministry has become much more complex and harder than when I was ordained in 1977 and I respect and admire all those who are presently serving their people, perhaps especially in our parishes, which is where the Church of England is routed and to be found.  In spite of the increasing complexities of ordained life, if I had my time over again – I would do exactly what I have attempted to do, namely so serve my dear Lord and His people.”

David Walker, Bishop of Manchester summed up the thoughts and appreciation of all Bishops of the Northern Province and said: “Bishop Glyn will be greatly missed. The radiance of his deep faith in Jesus Christ has shone in many a service, meeting and pastoral encounter. Through his leadership, Mutual Flourishing has been far more than a slogan, it has been central to how we have grappled with the diversity of church tradition. Bishop Glyn always saw himself as part of the episcopal team in the Dioceses, his total commitment to working alongside bishops and archdeacons has, along with his natural sensitivity to all concerned, helped bring many a complex or contested situation to a successful conclusion”.

Carl Schaefer, Vicar in the Parish of Goldthorpe and Hickleton, which has received extended oversight from Bishop Glyn, said: “Bishop Glyn will be really missed by many; he has worked hard to sustain the parishes in his care and has been tireless in his support for clergy and laity alike throughout the Province and beyond. His approachability and common touch, alongside his good humour have been particularly appreciated. We owe him our thanks and appreciation as he enters the next phase of his Christian journey in ministry”.

It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the death, earlier today, of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

We join with the people of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world in mourning Prince Philip’s death.

We also thank God for his life of dedicated and distinguished public service.

Throughout their long marriage, Prince Philip was a devoted husband and a rock solid support to his beloved wife, Her Majesty the Queen.

We join with countless others in praying for the repose of Prince Philip’s soul and Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family that they may be conscious that underneath are the everlasting arms to comfort and sustain them in their bereavement.

Prince Philip, Rest in Peace.

God save the Queen.

The Bishop of Beverley will ordain the following candidate:

Priesthood

Please pray for Fr Jamie, Lorna and family.

A list of The Society Ordinations can be found here.

Due to public health regulations, at ordinations the numbers able to be physically present are strictly limited and so attendance in person is by invitation only.