Archdeacon Nikki was asked to preach in the Cathedral on St Oswald's feast day last week. Her sermon provides some fascinating insights into the former Bishop of Worcester, particularly as we continue to pray for the current process to appoint our next Bishop!
"I have to admit that I didn’t know a huge amount about St Oswald before being invited to preach today. I knew he had been a Bishop of Worcester, and that he died whilst washing the feet of the poor. I didn’t know, until I did a bit of googling, about how he came to be in Worcester, his role in establishing this cathedral and reviving monasticism, nor that he eventually became Archbishop of York as well as being Bishop of Worcester. I certainly hope no-one tries to use that as a precedent as I think they are both pretty full-on roles in our day and age!
I knew nothing about Oswald as a person. What characteristics did he have that led to him being consecrated as a bishop, how did he inhabit the role? I found these to be interesting questions to ponder and research as we seek a new Bishop of Worcester all these years later, questions that our readings from Peter’s letter and John’s gospel also shed some light upon, and I will come to those in a moment.
It is amazing how quickly you can find out so much online about someone who lived over a thousand years ago. Like today, there are blogs and scholarly articles containing a mixture of myth, fake news and fact. Unlike today the visual evidence is in stained glass windows rather than photos, memes and video clips, but it’s surprising how I was soon able to picture this much loved and holy man. As an elected member of the Crown Nominations Commission discerning who might be put forward as the next Bishop of Worcester, I found myself reading about Oswald as though in a reference, a personal statement or clerical CV. I read with interest what Dunstan of Canterbury was looking for in the person he should appoint to be Bishop of Worcester in 961. What was in his Statement of Needs?
One writer said that Dunstan ‘was undertaking a large restoration program in the English Church and needed like-minded people as his helpers. whose labours would yield bountiful fruit for the Church. He sought someone who would dedicate his energies to reviving monasticism and spiritual life in the whole of England.’
He recognised it needed to be ‘someone who could engage in a difficult and gradual process of change in Worcester as the city lacked a monastic tradition.’
Bountiful fruit for the church. Reviving spiritual life. Restoration. A process of complex change. I think there are resonances here with our Statement of Needs in 2025.
We say in our document that we’re on a significant journey of transformation and change and are seeking a diocesan bishop who will engage with us, and lead us further in this ongoing adventure of faith and mission, deepening our vision and further grounding it in a theology of mission. Certainly sounds quite similar to me!
So what are the characteristics Dunstan saw in Oswald? One biographer says he was a ‘rare humble and kind-hearted saint, with a pleasant appearance, melodious voice, open and attractive nature and many talents’.
A pleasant appearance and melodious voice would not be permitted in an equal ops person spec today, but aspects of his character I read about included that he was remembered for his holy life and learning, for mercifulness and generosity, for honesty and meekness, for hospitality and care for the poor. As we know, he died washing the feet of the poor, which he did every day in Lent, Other accounts of his ministry in Worcester describe him preaching inside and outside the church – NWCs in the garden or public square even in the 960s! I read this:
“People’s hearts were drawn to him seeing his holiness and sincerity. Unlike St. Ethelwold, who out of zeal for the good of the Church often acted resolutely and quite sternly, St. Oswald acted very wisely and amicably. His approach was based primarily on love, temperance, patience and teaching. Like Dunstan, Oswald preferred to be slow and quiet rather than strict and quick. His very meek and amicable nature attracted the hearts of thousands of English people to him who loved him and gradually returned from their errors to the right path of genuine Christian life.”
Oswald was also an astute businessman!
“An ascetic, visionary, encourager of monks and consoler of the people, St. Oswald was an able advisor of the royal family for many years as well. Due to his close links with the royal house he managed to secure extensive lands for his monasteries.
On his death he was mourned by traders who left their stalls to mourn with ‘orphans, widows, monks, clergy, strangers, peasants and paupers – all those whom he had taken care of in his lifetime.’
I was heartened to note that all those years ago, the characteristics of a good bishop, a bishop who was both effective in ministry and loved by those he served, were pretty much the same as those we look for today. If you read about our Vacancy in See process on the diocesan website, you will find phrases like “a wise, deeply prayerful, humble and compassionate leader and pastor, focused on discerning and developing the gifts of others, confident and articulate in representing the church in the public square, speaking with theological literacy and compassion into national and local situations” You will see we seek a bishop who “will wholeheartedly value, embrace, support and work with those whose convictions are different, committed to ensuring all are protected to flourish, who is known for relational collegiality and collaborative engagement” I think Oswald would probably have made the shortlist!
If you haven’t looked at it the info on the website, can I urge you to do so, and to pray with all your heart that we discern the woman or man God is calling to follow in Oswald’s footsteps.
When Jesus was reinstating Peter as a leader in the early church, effectively as an early bishop, he asked of him two things – to love him, Jesus, and to feed his sheep. When you distil the person spec for a leader in God’s church, at any level, bishop, dean, parish priest, children’s worker, church warden, these two things pretty much capture the crucial things. Love God, and love people. Feed and tend the flock, young and old, care for them, wash their feet. And do so because of your love for Jesus.
Peter picks this up in his letter. Elders, tend the flock of God that is in your care, eagerly, not for personal gain. Willingly, motivated by your love of God and calling by him. Don’t lord it over those entrusted to your charge and care, but be examples, following the good shepherd who sought out lost sheep, tended them and fed them.
To be called to leadership in God’s church is both an honour, and a burden, a blessing and a weighty responsibility. It is an invitation to join in with Jesus, the good shepherd, in, feeding and tending the flock, and requires humility and wisdom, care for the poorest and most vulnerable, and love beyond measure.
Many of us here hold leadership roles, in church, and in the world, at many different levels. That responsibility to wisely tend and care, to love God and love people is one we all need to give heed to as we exercise the roles God has called us to. As fellow disciples, we need God’s grace to hold any influence we have other others with humility and holiness,
But as we remember Oswald, Bishop of Worcester, let’s pray for those who are called to be bishops in our troubled church today, that they might exercise power wisely, serving the poor and most vulnerable as well as yielding bountiful fruit and expending their energies to revive spiritual life. I imagine it feels a tough calling for many of our episcopal sisters and brothers right now. Let’s pray for Martin, Acting Bishop of Worcester, as he leads and tends sheep in this diocese, for courage, wisdom, grace and fortitude. And let’s commit to praying for whoever God is calling to be the next Bishop of Worcester, both now and in the coming months as we discern who that is, and then for them as they prepare to come here to love and serve the people of this diocese."
