Responding to today\u2019s announcement, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield, said: \u201cI am very sorry to hear that Bishop Andrew Burnham is leaving us. As our local \u201d\u02dcflying bishop\u2019 we have worked together well and he has always been frank and courteous. We have agreed on most things and I have received much from him. He has had a huge territory to cover from the South West of England to the North West midlands and has looked after his churches well. I wish him well as he transfers to the Roman Catholic Church. We have increasingly good relationships with Catholics here so our loss will be their gain.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
In words designed to reassure those traditionalist congregations who had petitioned for alternative episcopal oversight, he added: \u201cThe Archbishop of Canterbury is moving immediately to appoint fresh \u201d\u02dcflying bishops\u2019 and there will be no gap in pastoral care for those churches in our Diocese who have looked to the Bishop of Ebbsfleet. I am going to arrange a meeting in January for all who are anxious about the possibility of women bishops and wish to ask my colleagues and me about the future.<\/p>\n