Bishop of Salisbury to retire after 10 years

The Bishop of Salisbury says he plans to retire to Brighton

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, has announced he plans to retire after 10 years in the role.

He said the decision "felt right" and he planned to step down on 3 July, shortly before his 67th birthday.

"Being the Bishop of Salisbury has been a privilege and a joy," he said.

His replacement could be appointed in the autumn. The Bishop of Sherborne, the Right Reverend Karen Gorham, is to be the acting Bishop of Salisbury.

Novichok 'tourists'

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, praised the bishop's environmental focus during his time in the job and his "tireless work".

"I give thanks to the legacy he leaves: the Church's first ever Green Lent campaign, and initiatives aimed at helping parishes reduce their carbon footprint.

"We have the Bishop to thank for a General Synod motion in 2020 for a target of net zero emissions across the church by 2030."

It was during Bishop Holtam's tenure that Salisbury Cathedral was thrust into the international spotlight during the Novichok attacks in 2018.

The two Russian suspects in the case claimed they had come to the UK to see the cathedral's spire.

The bishop is chair of the Church of England's environmental working group

'Full of admiration'

He said he and his wife Helen plan to move to Brighton to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

"The energy, variety and resourcefulness of our churches, chaplaincies and schools are just three of the reasons why being the Bishop of Salisbury is a joy.

"I am full of admiration for our cathedral, for clergy colleagues and for the people of the diocese who have been extraordinarily resilient and creative in the adaptation of continued ministry and mission.

"When the pandemic subsides, the scale of what faces us will benefit from a new diocesan bishop with whom to make decisions about the future," he said.