Bishop's Christmas tribute to emergency unit staff

Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher hoped the light of Christ would bring hope and brightness to all

The Bishop of Norwich said he had been inspired by the work of staff at a hospital emergency unit following a visit.

Bishop Graham, who spends time with an emergency service every Christmas, visited the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

He witnessed "sometimes 50 patients an hour turning up for treatment and care and often very traumatic situations" and was also shown how a 60-patient virtual ward works.

Just before giving his official Christmas message on BBC Radio Norfolk, the Anglican bishop paid tribute to an elderly couple who died after they were hit by a car in High Kelling near Holt, after leaving a carol service.

"They had given so much to that community and were serving that community all day on Saturday, welcoming people to their church," he said.

"And what a tragedy that they were both killed as they were, as they were walking home after carol service.

"And so my thoughts and prayers are very much with that community, with that couple's family. It's happened just so near Christmas, but that in this season, something of the light of Christ will come into their deepest and dark."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which saw two pedestrians killed after they were hit by a car

In his main Christmas message, the Bishop referred to the tensions and challenges within families that can arise at this time of year, as well as wider global concerns.

He said: "Much of life seems to hover between calm and storm, brightness and darkness.

"Too much of this year has been about storms and darkness.

"War in the Middle East, riots on our streets, dangerously divisive rhetoric around the world, ever worsening news about the climate and biodiversity crisis.

"And indeed, the scandal of abuse in the church I serve."

He urged people to remember the Christmas message, "that God's way is calm and bright".

"I keep meeting people who are fostering calm, generating brightness, quietly making a huge difference," he said.

"So this Christmas, wherever you are, see again the stable and those new parents illuminated by the calm light of an oil lamp.

"So my prayer is that Jesus will fill your Christmas to make it calm and bright."

The diocese of Norwich covers most of Norfolk and the Waveney area of Suffolk.