\u201cIt has been a privilege to serve as bishop in this diocese for over a decade,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause we are a small diocese with a family feel, our clergy and lay people have been able to collaborate effectively and respond quickly to changing circumstances \u2013 as the past year has shown.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past 10 years, I have seen courage, generosity and resourcefulness as our congregations have faithfully shared God\u2019s love, through prayer, worship and serving others. I look forward to working with those fellow disciples over the coming months to continue discovering what the post-Covid Church will look like as we renew our commitment to respond collaboratively in changing times.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may seem surprising that I should make this announcement just before Christmas, but the timing means that the period that the Diocese of Portsmouth will be without a diocesan bishop will be as short as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to all those who have prayed for us and worked alongside us over the past 10 years, in the churches and communities of south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Sally and I will be sorry to leave so many valued friends and colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week in the Lords the Bishop of @CofEPortsmouth<\/a> Christopher Foster is on duty & reading prayers at the start of daily business pic.twitter.com\/KmspN94x3a<\/a><\/p>\n — Church of England in Parliament (@churchstate) October 24, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n