Bishop Cyril's Letter

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 August 2011 08:40

Bishop Cyril writes:

This letter gives me and my wife Muriel an opportunity to say thank you. Thank you for the gifts and good wishes we have received as we move on from the diocese of Sheffield, but above all, for the love and friendship that has so enriched our time in South Yorkshire. The last eleven years have been among the most rewarding of my ministry. Working alongside Bishop Jack and then Bishop Steven with colleagues on bishop`s staff has been both challenging and happy. I have enjoyed the variety and stimulation of being involved in leadership in the diocese. I have found great satisfaction in my role as sponsoring bishop working with an outstanding team dedicated to helping people discern their vocation as clergy or lay ministers.  In this context the development of the School of Ministry is particularly pleasing. We will leave with very good memories for which we are so grateful.

Retiring is quite an interesting experience and there has been no shortage of wisdom and good advice. This ranges from, “you`ll be busier than ever,” to “enjoy touring the world on your motorbike.” I suspect reality will be somewhere in between. Very kindly a number of people said that I look too young to retire. I like James Thurber`s comment – “I`m 65 but if there were 15 months in every year, I`d only be 48.” I remember saying to one of my sons that time seems to fly as you get older. “You are bound to go faster when you are going downhill,” was his affirming comment.

We will move to Lancaster this summer and are well into discussions about which items of furniture we need to dispose of. Of course, none of our children want the furniture we had planned to hand on to them. Pieces that we had scrimped and saved to buy over the years, thinking vainly that they would be delighted to own, have been politely declined. However, there is great interest in having my classic car, motorbike and pin number. None of which are on offer at the moment.

Of course, it doesn`t do to confess to a Yorkshire man that you are leaving to go to Lancashire. They look at you as though you have been caught doing something you should be ashamed of. “Never ask a man if he is from Yorkshire,” advised Roy Hattersley. “If he is he`ll already have told you. If he isn`t why embarrass him?” Pride in belonging to Yorkshire is perfectly understandable and we are delighted to have been included in this great part of the country for the last eleven years.

Our pilgrimage continues with thankfulness to God for the joy of meeting so many lovely people, and with anticipation of all that he has in store for us.

+Cyril

“This letter will appear in hard copies of church magazines across the Diocese in September”