A great wrench to leave, says retiring bishop

Bishop John Inge will retire in October after nearly 17 years as bishop of Worcester

A retiring bishop said it has been “a great privilege” to lead his diocese and that leaving would be “a great wrench”.

A farewell service is being held for the Bishop of Worcester, the Right Reverend John Inge, on Sunday.

He is the 113th bishop of Worcester and will retire on 9 October after nearly 17 years in the role.

Of his retirement plans, he said: “I’m hoping it’s going to feel like one long holiday, freedom, because I’ll be able to do what I want to do when I want to do it."

'Nature of the job'

Bishop Inge told BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester he planned to do more cycling, reading and writing.

He said the highlight of his time as bishop had been seeing “people come to faith”, which had given him hope and joy.

“It’s a great privilege for all priests and bishops to be alongside people in very difficult times as well as in very joyful times.”

He added that "standing up for what one sees as truth and justice and goodness and integrity will sometimes make one unpopular, that’s in the nature of the job".

Bishop Inge welcomed The Queen to the Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral in March

Bishop Inge said the community had supported him through the loss of his first wife and he hoped to help the community in his new home in Wiltshire.

He said he would return to visit his children, who live locally to Worcestershire, but that he was mindful of not stepping on the toes of his successor.

His advice to them was “to love God and love the people to whom you’re sent.”