The Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Nicholas Roderick Holtam, BD, MA, FKC, Hon DCL, Vicar of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields in the diocese of London, for election as Bishop of Salisbury in succession to the Right Reverend Dr David Staffurth Stancliffe, MA, DD, on his resignation on 30 September 2010.
Press Release from 10 Downing Street: Diocese of Salisbury
Statement on diocesan website: New Bishop of Salisbury Announced
Statement on the St Martin-in-the-Fields wesbite: Revd Nicholas Holtam appointed Bishop of Salisbury
As a former near neighbour of St Martin’s ( their administration was based in St George’s Crypt during their restoration, to our mutual benefit) I am delighted! A cordial for drooping spirits!
An excellent and welcome appointment. Well done to all concerned.
Now, who’s for Dunelm?
In 1973, George Reindorp was installed as Bishop of Salisbury. One of his first actions was summarily to determine (without interview) the licences of eight clergy who were either remarried or married to spouses who has previously been divorced. After almost 40 years it is good to hear that Nick has been appointed his successor but two. One trusts his attitude will be rather different and his mien less haughty.
Wonderful news!
I seached for Nicholas Holtam on Google and found this from five years ago. Still worth reading. I just hope and pray that he sticks to his guns and speaks as prophetically when in the House of Bishops.
http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/001966.html
Well Heaven be praised. This has quite literally made my day.
Now come on Winchester…
Lincoln and Durham before Winchester; #4 before #5, that’s obvious, but Lincoln also got in first.
The CNC doesn’t consider +Winton until 9 June, and 5/6 July.
An opposing statement from John Richardson, of the minority Anglican Mainstream, who blogs as the Ugly Blogger:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8446405/Bishops-married-to-divorcees-pose-serious-challenge-to-traditionalist-Anglicans.html
Don’t you just love the knee-jerk reactions of the evangelical bloggers. So Nick Holtam’s marriage to a divorcee (regardless of when or the circumstances) and his views on homosexuality ‘pose a serious challenge to traditionalist Anglicans’. What I think poses a serious challenge, to all of us, not least traditionalist clergy, is Nick Holtam’s love, compassion, acceptance, initiative and energy manifested in his work at St Martin’s in the Fields. A Bishop with his track record should be a shining example of what is possible. If all the Bishops were like him the Church would be a very different place… Read more »
Church Society’s appalling self righeous statement http://www.evangelicals.org/news.asp?id=1281 and John Richardson’s article about this matter cause me to hang my head in shame. Will we see another attempt to block an appointment? Richard Ashby’s comment about the challenges and qualities that really are important is helpful and encouraging. But I suspect the noise around this will, sadly, get louder.
I couldnt agree more Richard Ashby. Lets hope it is a case of “the dogs bark but the caravan moves on”. Let us hope and pray it is so.
Yes, John Richardson and Church Society’s statements beggar belief given the role of Henry in the history of the Church of England. This kind of ‘fundamentalism’ sucks. What a perversion of a fine word. I recent that more than the ‘loss’ of the word gay. Also it is clear that Conservative Evangelicals wish they could suppress all other points of view and forms of church-personship. No room for pluralism. They want it all their own way. And I love their carefully confected and cultivated crises ‘of conscience.’ There will be no campaign against Nick Holtam’s appointment. They are both conscientious… Read more »
Good comments by Benny Hazlehurst at
http://benny2010.blogspot.com/2011/04/gays-damned-gays-and-pro-gays.html
While Nick Holtam has done much in St Martin’s, his outstanding anti-racist work alongside Sue Mayo when he was a vicar on the Isle of Dogs – informed of course by his faith – is also noteworthy. While it is a loss for London that he is going, it is excellent news for Salisbury.
Richard Ashby’s comment on Tuesday contains the link to a response made by Nick Holtam to the Global South in 2006. In this response, we read the following: – ” Further, for Anglicans Christian ethics have never simply been Biblical ethics. We also use as authorities the tradition of Church teaching (a faithful wisdom from the Church down the ages), as well as the authority of our God-given reason and intellect. These three authorities work together to help us discern the work and will of God.” From this extract of his response alone, I would think that Bishop Nick Holtam… Read more »
Well done Nick.
The Rev Nicholas Holtam restored my Faith in the Church.
Without knowing it, without asking for anything in return.