We have announced that Hugh Nelson, currently Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro will be our next Bishop of Worcester. On Tuesday 29 July, Bishop Hugh spent the day in the Diocese, getting to know some of our people and places.
The initial announcement was made at a ‘Lightbox’ drop in event for young people at St Helen’s Church, just off Worcester High Street. Two teenagers from All Saints Church, Edward Blythe and Tobias Auty, introduced Bishop Hugh, praying for the start of his ministry and welcoming him on behalf of young people in all our communities across the Diocese.
After the announcement, Bishop Hugh, his wife Lizzie and Bishop Martin visited the Wildgoose Training Care Farm just outside of Worcester, meeting the staff and students there and also hearing about the support from the local churches as well as the Chaplaincy for Agriculture and Rural Life. Over lunch he chatted to some of our clergy serving in rural areas to hear about the challenges facing our rural churches and their communities.
Both bishops then headed up to St Thomas’ Church in Stourbridge to meet the Area Dean and Sub Deans of Greater Dudley Deanery as well as some of our renewal church leaders serving in both Dudley and Redditch. Following a couple of media interviews, there was the chance to chat to them over a cup of tea and learn more about our transformation priorities and the signs of hope in many of our churches.
Back in Worcester, Bishop Hugh met diocesan and cathedral staff as well as other Area Deans and Lay Chairs and finished the day attending Evensong at the Cathedral.
He said: “It was a joy to be introduced by some young people in our churches – they did it so beautifully. And it was great to meet lots of clergy serving in different parts of the diocese, as well as diocesan and cathedral staff.
"Thank you for welcoming me! My hope for the churches in this glorious part of the world, is that we will continue to be communities of hope, that point towards God – I can’t wait to join you properly. I would start tomorrow if I could!”
More details about Bishop Hugh’s start in the Diocese will be available over the coming months, but it is likely that his installation service in the Cathedral will take place in January.
Watch our highlights film from the day
Photos
Find all the photos from the day on our Facebook page, or visit our Flickr page to browse through them there.
