Message from Bishop Robert, 10 January 2023

A number of us from across the diocese were pleased to be able to gather on Friday in the Cathedral to express our thanks to Canon Andrew Braddock for 14 years of ministry in this diocese. Andrew has served with distinction as Canon Missioner, Director of the Department of Mission and Ministry and, most recently, Interim Dean. He and the family go to Norwich, where he will be Dean, with our love and our prayers.

As Andrew moves, I am delighted to be taking on the role of Interim Dean as an Episcopal Companion to the Cathedral for the next few months prior to the arrival of a new Dean. We expect the new Dean to begin soon after Easter. My task, working with Chapter, will be to help provide a sense of stability and confidence over this time. I will have a particular focus on the pastoral and worshipping life of the Cathedral as well as helping in whatever way is needed. Canon Margaret Sheather will chair Chapter.

I will be doing this alongside my ministry as Bishop of Tewkesbury, which will mean some reshaping of my diary, but I am confident that this can be managed well and am grateful to all who will support me in this. Like all ministry, I am very aware that it can never be done in my own strength but, as the ordinal reminds us all, ‘only by the grace and power of God’. With this in mind, it is encouraging to be reminded that at the heart of the life of our Cathedral is the deep rhythm of prayer from which all that is done flows, and to which all we do returns.

Please do keep me and the Cathedral in your prayers and know that in the Cathedral each day prayer is offered for the whole life of the diocese, our communities, parish churches, chaplaincies, schools and Fresh Expressions as well as for the peace of the world and the leaders of the nations. It is this mutuality of prayer, a shared discipline across our diocese, that will keep us close to the heart of God, give us confidence and hope, as in these days we live the life of Christ and witness to the life in all abundance we are called to know.

Will you join me in prayer?

With every blessing,