on Thursday, 6 February 2025 at 2.27 pm by Simon Kershaw
categorised as Church of England, News
The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, the Bishop of Bristol, has announced that she will retire on 1 September 2025. Details are on the diocesan website. She was enthroned as Bishop of Bristol on 20 October 2018.
Yes, but regulation 29A(2) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009, “Holding office beyond the age of 70” – inserted by the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2017, provides: “An archbishop may give a direction for a person holding the office of diocesan bishop in the archbishop’s province who has attained the age of 70 years to continue to hold that office for the period specified in the direction.” The notice on the diocesan website (link above) explains in the opening paragraph: “The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, by kind permission of the King, will retire as… Read more »
David, I’m well aware of all that. I am familiar with the law on the subject which we have discussed (and I have linked on TA!) in the past. More to the point it is clearly stated in the diocesan announcement. I think you might be excused for thinking that other comments here were made by people who had not read it!
With compulsory retirement at 70 (give or take the monarch’s permission to extend), and the number of bishops deemed necessary, there must be a fairly constant conveyor belt of retirements, and appointments.
T Pott
1 month ago
Ring out the bells
Graham Watts
1 month ago
This is in line with her birthday making her 70 in the next few months. Retirement seems reasonable. But fortunate timing perhaps. There should be fun to be had in later life that isn’t overshadowed by being a CofE Bishop and sitting in the HofLs.
Richenda
1 month ago
Bishop Viv has been a wonderful diocesan bishop and will be much missed. But she certainly deserves a long and happy retirement.
While she was still at York, she took decisive action relating to two communities (bell ringers, and the Minster school). On both counts, she received some plaudits from the wider church for her decisiveness and willingness to face up to problems. On both counts, she left behind some badly scarred individuals who still react badly to mention of her name.
The bellringers issue was one of safeguarding – which makes Bp Viv one of the very few bishops to have acted decisively on a safeguarding matter, when doing so was difficult and controversial. She showed a courage then that few bishops, other than Helen-Ann Hartley, have matched. Sadly some people were very upset by her decision. But it’s hard to see what else she could have done in the circumstances.
I’m not sure that we strictly know that Bp Viv is “one of the very few bishops to have acted decisively on a safeguarding matter” – we are hearing about more and more instances of bishops not acting decisively, and we’re increasingly aware how this reflects a prevailing culture, but I don’t think we know how many other bishops may be quietly making good decisions that we don’t hear about. Nonetheless, the defence of Bishop Viv – that at least she took action – is valid but depressing. In today’s climate, the fact that a senior leader in the church… Read more »
Stephen Griffiths
1 month ago
A busy time for the CNC. They might be able to get this sorted by mid 2027.
Maybe they should swap to the format of The Voice? Candidates could give a short presentation and a diocesan rep could turn round if they liked it. If multiple turn round, the candidate gets to choose between them.
The Dioceses Commission should be invited/ advised/ proposed/ instructed to look into/ consider/ advise/ make recommendations/ decide on such. Join with Bath &Wells, and/or Salisbury? They have set their face against anything radical- fingers burnt from creating what was for a while the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, currently the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.
Why would this not work? As it happens the Police Service is provided by 45 territorial police forces; not dissimilar from the CofE’s 42 dioceses. One of those forces- Devon and Cornwall- covers an area extending from west of Penzance to east of Exeter, which are 110 miles apart. I’m sure a bishop on horseback would have found doing the rounds ok when they were joined as one diocese prior to 1876, and have reached the Isles of Scilly without a helicopter. Are Zoom and Teams not functional in Gloucestershire? Seriously, how many bishops are needed, and what for? local… Read more »
It is believed that the see of Bristol came into existence in 1542 only because of municipal resentment over the formation of the see of Gloucester in 1541. The see then comprised the county corporate and deanery of Bristol, Abbots Leigh in Somerset and – incredibly – Dorset. It was pitifully endowed, even by Henrician standards, and was often held in commendam with a better-paid deanery. Bristol and Gloucester were united in 1836 chiefly because of the creation of the see of Ripon. It was then thought necessary to split the large but poorly endowed diocese of Chester (which had… Read more »
I wouldn’t be so sure. Travelling around rural Gloucestershire by car is one thing, travelling by car in Bristol is another and Bristolians put the protest in Protestant.
Yes. Morton in Marsh to Bristol is 62 miles and Lydney to Swindon is 56 miles. In the diocese of York, York to Middlesborough is 50 miles.
I am not sure what your point is?
Yes, total of just 190 benefices between them (about the same as St Albans), same goes for combining Hereford and Worcester (total 161 benefices, less than Salisbury). The relatively new Leeds Diocese brought 4 dioceses together with a new total of 264 benefices. We can’t go on with Bishops, Archdeacons and Diocesan offices for multiple Dioceses each with a population and church size less than half of that of London, Southwark, Chelmsford, Manchester Lichfield, Oxford, etc.
Homeless Anglican
1 month ago
Her Suffragan is newish in post but excellent.. just saying!
Lots of Bishops retiring this weather.
But in this case past the compulsory retirement date.
Yes, but regulation 29A(2) of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Regulations 2009, “Holding office beyond the age of 70” – inserted by the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2017, provides: “An archbishop may give a direction for a person holding the office of diocesan bishop in the archbishop’s province who has attained the age of 70 years to continue to hold that office for the period specified in the direction.” The notice on the diocesan website (link above) explains in the opening paragraph: “The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, by kind permission of the King, will retire as… Read more »
David, I’m well aware of all that. I am familiar with the law on the subject which we have discussed (and I have linked on TA!) in the past. More to the point it is clearly stated in the diocesan announcement. I think you might be excused for thinking that other comments here were made by people who had not read it!
A wry general comment, Steven. or a slur on a good bishop?
Just a general comment. I do not know the Bishop of Bristol. I wish them well in their retirement though.
Thank you for the clarification, Steven. In an Evangelical diocese +Viv is known for supporting her clergy irrespective of their sexual orientation.
With compulsory retirement at 70 (give or take the monarch’s permission to extend), and the number of bishops deemed necessary, there must be a fairly constant conveyor belt of retirements, and appointments.
Ring out the bells
This is in line with her birthday making her 70 in the next few months. Retirement seems reasonable. But fortunate timing perhaps. There should be fun to be had in later life that isn’t overshadowed by being a CofE Bishop and sitting in the HofLs.
Bishop Viv has been a wonderful diocesan bishop and will be much missed. But she certainly deserves a long and happy retirement.
While she was still at York, she took decisive action relating to two communities (bell ringers, and the Minster school). On both counts, she received some plaudits from the wider church for her decisiveness and willingness to face up to problems. On both counts, she left behind some badly scarred individuals who still react badly to mention of her name.
Only in the Church of England could badly scarring people earn plaudits.
How many CDM complaints were filed against her, arising out of her actions at York?
The bellringers issue was one of safeguarding – which makes Bp Viv one of the very few bishops to have acted decisively on a safeguarding matter, when doing so was difficult and controversial. She showed a courage then that few bishops, other than Helen-Ann Hartley, have matched. Sadly some people were very upset by her decision. But it’s hard to see what else she could have done in the circumstances.
I’m not sure that we strictly know that Bp Viv is “one of the very few bishops to have acted decisively on a safeguarding matter” – we are hearing about more and more instances of bishops not acting decisively, and we’re increasingly aware how this reflects a prevailing culture, but I don’t think we know how many other bishops may be quietly making good decisions that we don’t hear about. Nonetheless, the defence of Bishop Viv – that at least she took action – is valid but depressing. In today’s climate, the fact that a senior leader in the church… Read more »
A busy time for the CNC. They might be able to get this sorted by mid 2027.
Maybe they should swap to the format of The Voice? Candidates could give a short presentation and a diocesan rep could turn round if they liked it. If multiple turn round, the candidate gets to choose between them.
I prefer Just a Minute. Candidates should explain the doctrine of the Trinity in one minute without repetition, hesitation or deviation.
Lovely idea. Personally I would prefer It’s a Knockout as a format.
Perhaps it would be a good time to join the diocese of Bristol with the diocese of Gloucester.
The Dioceses Commission should be invited/ advised/ proposed/ instructed to look into/ consider/ advise/ make recommendations/ decide on such. Join with Bath &Wells, and/or Salisbury? They have set their face against anything radical- fingers burnt from creating what was for a while the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, currently the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.
Been there, done that, didn’t work then, wouldn’t work now. Do you know how far Moreton jn Marsh is from Bristol, or Lydney from Swindon ?
Less than some of the distances in the Peterborough diocese.
Why would this not work? As it happens the Police Service is provided by 45 territorial police forces; not dissimilar from the CofE’s 42 dioceses. One of those forces- Devon and Cornwall- covers an area extending from west of Penzance to east of Exeter, which are 110 miles apart. I’m sure a bishop on horseback would have found doing the rounds ok when they were joined as one diocese prior to 1876, and have reached the Isles of Scilly without a helicopter. Are Zoom and Teams not functional in Gloucestershire? Seriously, how many bishops are needed, and what for? local… Read more »
It is believed that the see of Bristol came into existence in 1542 only because of municipal resentment over the formation of the see of Gloucester in 1541. The see then comprised the county corporate and deanery of Bristol, Abbots Leigh in Somerset and – incredibly – Dorset. It was pitifully endowed, even by Henrician standards, and was often held in commendam with a better-paid deanery. Bristol and Gloucester were united in 1836 chiefly because of the creation of the see of Ripon. It was then thought necessary to split the large but poorly endowed diocese of Chester (which had… Read more »
I wouldn’t be so sure. Travelling around rural Gloucestershire by car is one thing, travelling by car in Bristol is another and Bristolians put the protest in Protestant.
Yes. Morton in Marsh to Bristol is 62 miles and Lydney to Swindon is 56 miles. In the diocese of York, York to Middlesborough is 50 miles.
I am not sure what your point is?
And York to Hull is another 40 miles/ 1hr. So Hull to Middlesbrough is over 2hrs/ over 90 miles.
much closer in both time and distance from each other than the 2 hrs/ 90+ miles between Middlesbrough and Hull in the (one) Diocese of York.
Yes, total of just 190 benefices between them (about the same as St Albans), same goes for combining Hereford and Worcester (total 161 benefices, less than Salisbury). The relatively new Leeds Diocese brought 4 dioceses together with a new total of 264 benefices. We can’t go on with Bishops, Archdeacons and Diocesan offices for multiple Dioceses each with a population and church size less than half of that of London, Southwark, Chelmsford, Manchester Lichfield, Oxford, etc.
Her Suffragan is newish in post but excellent.. just saying!