The Bishop of Salisbury retires after 10 years
He is reflecting on his time in the Diocese
Today is the last day of the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam's role as the Bishop of Salisbury.
After 10 years of service the Bishop, is retiring just a month short of his 67th Birthday.
He has described his time in the Diocese of Wiltshire and Dorset as a privilege and a joy but in present circumstances the decision of leaving hasn't been an easy one.
The Bishop feels it's the right thing to do as the impact of the pandemic is going to be felt for a long time.
THE REVD CAME TO SALISBURY IN 2011
The Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam and his wife, have been leading the Diocese for 10 years, which covers most of Wiltshire, Dorset, Poole and parts of Bournemouth as well as a small part Hampshire and one parish in Devon.
In his time, among other things, The Bishop of Salisbury has been a Foundation Trustee of Sarum College and serves on the College Council. He is President of Marlborough College and Vice President of the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust and Dorset Historic Churches Trust.
Since 2015 he has been a member of the House of Lords. He has contributed to the Anglican Communion's Environmental Network and the European Churches Environmental Network and he is an Ambassador for Hope Cathedral in Norway.
He says Helen, has been monumental in his time at the Diocese:
"When we came to Salisbury in 2011, Helen had just retired as a Maths teacher. She has supported me particularly through hospitality and fundraising in The South Canonry and in the beautiful garden, notably running the Sudan fete. Helen has been a major part of what I have been able to do and I am grateful for her and our family's support. We look forward to retiring to Brighton to be closer to our children and grandchildren."
WHAT NEXT FOR THE RT REVD NICHOLAS HOLTAM?
There is a bit of clearing up to do for the Bishop but on Saturday there is a service to say goodbye to him.
He is hoping there will be 180 people, Covid permitting, but the service will be live streamed online.
In a couple of weeks he and Helen are moving to Brighton, in a flat, overlooking the sea and are looking forward to being nearer to children and grandchildren.
"I have got a book to write, the Archbishop of York has asked me to write a book about advent for next year so I have got to have it written by January. But, it's not going to come out until the middle of next year and I hope it will be used by people who are preparing for Christmas.
"It's a meditation on the environment, looking at some paintings, some prayers, wondering why we can't summon up the energy to do things different. I thought I would call it "sleep is wake" because that's a good advent theme and we've got to really wake up to the climate crisis and the environmental crisis beyond what's happening with the pandemic and the economy, actually we've got some really big issues facing us and Christianity can help us with that."
SALISBURY HIGHLIGHTS
Pre-pandemic, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam has absolutely loved gatherings in great numbers at Salisbury Cathedral.
"It feels like a long time ago, but I loved those big services at advent and Christmas and when people come and gather.
"There have been lots of events in parish churches and small churches I have loved getting to know rural churches, that's relatively new for me but it's been a real privilege getting to know the rural community and some of the farmers, it's the people who make it, isn't it?"
WHO WILL FILL HIS ROLE?
What happens next? The Bishop of Sherbourne will become the acting Bishop of Salisbury and the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam's colleagues Bishops and Arch Deacons will also hold the Diocese.
"It's a big Diocese 442 parishes with 570 churches, 150 new ways of being church and 196 Church schools and academies. This year we also welcome the Church of England in the Channel Islands.
"My successor will hopefully be announced by Christmas, but it'll be at least three months after that, that they will start, which is Easter, but it'll be no later than summer.
"So it's a funny sort of gap and I wish it could happen quicker, one person out and one person, but in reality people need a bit of breathing space and people need to find themselves, and then the new Bishop will need to start and then they will be able to take a longer view than I am capable of at the moment.
"I'm looking forward to them being appointed and for the Diocese to move on."
Evensong, for the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, is in the cathedral on Saturday at 5.30pm but it's very limited, The Cathedral hopes those who want to will join them online.