A spirit of encouragement

During a recent Songs of Praise from Christ Church, Bishop Richard said that he wishes to be remembered as someone who encouraged others. Many have memories of his encouragement to us as individuals, but I would like to acknowledge his brilliance as an encourager on the wider scale.

Thinking about a Bishop to follow Patrick Rodger twenty years ago the Bishop's Council asked for a good communicator - and the powers-that-were came up trumps. Countless people of all faiths and none have been encouraged by Bishop Richard's broadcasts - particularly Prayer for the Day and later Thought for the Day - by his books, by his teaching.

In the House of Lords he has been an ambassador for Christ, encouraging the nation as it tackled important issues of our time from fair trade and ethical investment, to housing and homelessness, to the treatment of asylum seekers, particularly those detained at Campsfield. But he has not only been a national and international figure, we remember him as 'our' bishop.

Sharing life long before the strategy for evangelisation came into being, Bishop Richard has encouraged the people of this Diocese by bringing us together. In the September after his arrival, the Diocese went on pilgrimage to Oxford, staying in the homes of local Christians. The parishes processed with their banners, led by Hungerford, and we made Eucharist in Broad Street.

A few years later there was a mass exodus of the three counties to Butlins at Bognor Regis - we were blessed with outstandingly good weather, excellent speakers, marvellous opportunities to learn, and the never to be forgotten entrance of the senior staff to the final Eucharist, each led by a little child. Most recently the weekend at High Wycombe - Bishop Richard stood on the lawn welcoming us all by name, the Archbishop of Canterbury joined us, and again there were opportunities to pray, to learn - but most of all to get to know each other, to meet old friends and make new ones.

The sense of community resulting from these major undertakings has enhanced the work of the Diocese and encouraged us as individuals. The opportunities to 'break bread together' socially as well as sacramentally continue.  The Diocesan Synod networks over ‘bring and share’ lunches, the Bishop’s Council team builds with bacon butty breakfasts, General Synod members dine together.

In saying that he wishes to be remembered as someone who encouraged others Bishop Richard may have been thinking of individual people - but I would like to acknowledge and thank him for the ways he has encouraged the life and work of his Diocese, bringing us together to work towards the fulfilment of our purpose - to create caring, sustainable and growing Christian presence in every part of the Diocese of Oxford.

Penny Keens is Diocesan Lay Chair