New bishop calls for Church to look forward

The new Bishop of Reading has urged the Church to move on from the row over gay priests and focus on championing the Christian faith.

Revd Canon Stephen Cottrell said: ‘I hope that the Church can move on from the difficulties of the last few months and look forward. We need to focus instead on how to communicate more effectively the Christian faith to the latest generation. People have a longing for God but they do not always have a longing for the Church. We need to tackle that.’

Mr Cottrell, 45, was appointed six months after Canon Jeffrey John withdrew from the post.  He said he came to the role with ‘some trepidation’ because of the media onslaught he knew would result. Speaking to The Door, he said that ‘if I believe I am being invited by God, I cannot say no’. He said the job of area bishop in Reading would be a ‘huge challenge’.  ‘I believe that God will resource me for it,’ he said.
The media turned up in force to the press conference in Reading Minster where his appointment was announced.  He said he had supported Canon John’s original appointment for the post and counted him as a personal friend. He urged the wider Church to stop squabbling over the issue of gay clergy. 

‘The Church needs to listen more and speak less at the moment  on this issue. We need to listen to what God is saying to God’s church.
‘I am confident that the Church in this area can thrive and flourish and despite the difficulties I am confident about this new beginning.
‘I hope that I can be somebody who can create an environment of trust and honesty where we can begin to listen to each other. I can offer the people of this area joy and hope in the Gospel.’

Married with three sons, he will move to the area at Easter before his consecration on 4 May. He is currently Canon Pastor and vice-Dean at Peterborough Cathedral, where he has been for three years.  He has enormous experience in evangelism, particularly from a Catholic perspective. He was part of the group which wrote and developed the Emmaus course for evangelism, which has now been translated into dozens of languages. He has written numerous books on prayer and evangelism, and led missions across the Anglican Communion.
His appointment has been warmly welcomed in the Diocese. Anglican Mainstream Oxford, which opposed Canon John’s appointment, said: ‘We warmly welcome him as an evangelist, a leader in mission and a teacher-pastor. We look forward to working with him both in the Berkshire Archdeaconry and the wider diocese.’

Rt Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, said: ‘He is strongly aware of the serious challenges facing the Church today, and believes passionately in the power of the gospel to transform individuals and communities’.