BISHOP'S FAREWELL SERVICES

Saturday 3 July 2010

The Bishop of Salisbury, Dr David Stancliffe, participated in his final Cathedral services as Bishop on Saturday 3 July.

He presided at the ordination of 23 priests in the 11am service, attended by hundreds of well-wishers, and toured those having a picnic in the Cathedral grounds afterwards.

Representatives of the worldwide Christian Church linked with the Diocese of Salisbury were also in attendance. These included Archbishop Janis Vanags of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Bishop Hilary Luarte of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, and Bishop Christian Nourrichard of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evreux, France.

After a gathering and presentation at 4.30pm to the Bishop and his wife Sarah, he then preached at Evensong. Guests at the service included HM Lords Lieutenant for Dorset and Wiltshire.

The Bishop of Ramsbury, Stephen Conway, paid tribute to the Bishop’s “quality of friendship”, drawing parallels between Dr Stancliffe’s skill as a musician and as a Bishop.

In his address, the Bishop thanked everyone for “allowing me to enjoy the privilege these seventeen years, your partnership in the gospel, and your care and friendship”. He made special mention of links to the Sudan, Latvia and Evreux, his senior colleagues and the work done by parishes.

To read the Bishop's final address

For more pictures from the day