An open letter to Nigel Farage

Dear Mr Farage I was sorry not to meet you on your visit to Oxford this week to announce your party’s new policy on migration. As Bishop of Oxford, I know that Oxford is one of the kindest and most welcoming cities in the country and one of the greatest cultural crossroads in the world. […]

/by

The Sheffield Fairness Commission

Over the last year, I've been a member of the 23 person Fairness Commission in Sheffield looking at inequalities across the city.  Our report was published this week.  Being part of the Commission has been a fascinating and moving experience…

Grace and Responsibility

We held a consultation on parish share for people across the Diocese this morning.  Parish share is the financial contribution each parish makes to the Diocese to finance ministry costs and central expenses.  We're in the middle of a review…

A tragic death

I was at St. Saviour's Church, High Green in Sheffield this morning.  Alan Greaves, the organist and Reader at St. Saviour's was attacked on Christmas Eve just a few hundred yards from the church as he walked to church to play the organ at…

A Sermon for Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone.  This is my Christmas sermon from 2012, from the Midnight Eucharist at Sheffield Cathedral. Christmas Sermon 2012 24th December, 2012 in Sheffield Cathedral Isaiah 9.2-7 and Luke 2.1-14 Some powerful words from…

Advent reflections on a strange season

It’s been a strange season for the Church of England as most people reading this will know.  I think I have to go back around 20 years or so to find a similar time.  We’ve been rocked by the women bishops debate, unable to respond effectively…

Address to Diocesan Synod

The Sheffield Diocesan Synod met this morning just a few days after the General Synod debate on the Measure to enable women to be ordained as bishops.  At most Diocesan Synods, the Bishop gives a Presidential Address.  This is my address from…

A difficult day at the General Synod

What happened? Today was not a good or easy day.  After seven hours of debate and well over a hundred speeches the General Synod did not approve the Measure to enable women to be consecrated as bishops in the Church of England. The Bishops…

St. Hilda and the General Synod

Today is St. Hilda's day and I'm on a train this morning travelling to London to the General Synod.  The Synod is due to debate and vote tomorrow on the Measure to enable women to be made Bishops in the Church of England. The vote has been…

Remembrance in Rotherham

Highlights of the week included a visit to the primary school in the village of Laughton on Tuesday.  The school is the oldest school still in existence in South Yorkshire and celebrated its 400 birthday this year.  It doesn't surprise me…