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Photo credit: Graham Williams |
On Sunday 8 January we bid farewell to Bishop Donald in a service of Choral Evensong after 13 years as Diocesan Bishop. Attended by over 400 members of the diocese, the service was also streamed on the Cathedral facebook page enabling over a thousand viewers to show their appreciation for Bishop Donald’s wisdom, guidance and support during his time in office.
During the service Bishop Donald spoke of his continued focus on the future and on Jesus, saying that although his years in Peterborough Diocese had ended, and that partings and endings were part of the human condition, we were not together to focus on each other, but to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, whose years will never end. On Sunday much of the Church was celebrating the Baptism of Christ and the beginning of his public ministry, and that looking at the beginnings in transitions was much better than focusing on endings, but the difference with Jesus was there is never an ending.
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A number of people representing different areas of Bishop Donald’s ministry spoke, including the Dean of Peterborough who reflected on Bishop Donald’s lasting legacy in securing the New Cathedral Measure. The Revds Oliver Coss, Haydon Spenceley and Morna Simpson spoke of the support they had received from Bishop Donald, whilst Revd Jenny Bland focused specifically on his encouragement of youth ministry. The Revd Canon Helen Dearnley, Deputy Chaplain General of Prisons and Anglican Chaplaincy Advisor for HM Prison and Probation Service, reflected on Bishop Donald’s role in supporting chaplaincy.
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Precious Luke spoke of his role in developing lay ministry and Dr Sarah Furness, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, spoke of his role in civic life. Thanks were also given for Bishop Donald’s role in interfaith relationships and ecumenical cooperation by Abdul Chourdhuri, the Chairman of Peterborough Mosque and Revd Helen Cameron, President of Churches Together in England. Bishop John paid tribute to his quality of leadership, clarity of vision and above all faithfulness in over 40 years of ordained ministry, ending with Jesus’ words ‘well done thou good and faithful servant’.
The service concluded with a moving ceremony where Bishop Donald laid down his mitre, cope and pastoral staff on the altar as a sign that he was laying down his public ministry as pastor to the diocese, before walking the length of the Cathedral to the West Door as the organ played one of his favourite pieces of music, ‘Sheep may safely graze’ by J.S. Bach.
From all of the diocese, we wish Bishop Donald and his wife Janice, a very happy and blessed retirement.
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