A special leaving service for Archdeacon Ian Bishop will take place on Sunday 23 July in Wilmslow.
All are invited to come and give thanks for Archdeacon Ian and his 22 years of service in the Diocese of Chester and to wish him well as he follows a call to episcopal ministry.
The service will take place at St Bartholomew's, Wilmslow beginning at 5 pm.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to please book their attendance here.
Downing Street announced in June 2023 that Ian Bishop is to be the next Bishop of Thetford in the Diocese of Norwich, a diocese Ian and his wife Sue know well.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, Ian said: “There’s lots of good stories I’ll take away with me. But the thing that will be hardest to leave is actually the people, who are colleagues, but who have become friends.
"I have valued everybody’s support, I have never had anything other than wonderful support from the people of this diocese and I just want to say, ‘thank you’."
The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner said he was “delighted” at Ian's appointment: “Ian has been an outstanding Archdeacon: wise, patient, prayerful, and endlessly encouraging. I am delighted at his appointment to Thetford, although sorry to see him moving away from Chester.”
Ian will be ordained as a bishop in Westminster Abbey on 29 September 2023 and there will be a service of welcome for him and Sue at Norwich Cathedral on Saturday 30 September at 5.30 pm.
Leaving collection
Anyone wishing to contribute to a leaving collection to be presented to Ian at the leaving service can do by using the details below. All contributions must be received by the 22 July:
Account name: Chester Diocesan Board of Finance
Sort Code: 60-40-08
Account number: No: 41930185
Please reference the transaction as "IB Collection"