‘Being bishop in Somerset has been the greatest privilege of my life’

The house isn’t quite filled with boxes, nor the removal van ordered, but there is a sense of departure coming over us as I write this last magazine article during my time as Bishop of Bath and Wells.    Being bishop in Somerset has been the greatest privilege of my life.    I have enjoyed the wide and varied visits to communities, churches and institutions, where so many people are changing lives for good.

When I am asked what the high points have been, there are so many it is almost invidious to compare.    However, I think the early Changing Lives road shows when over 6,000 people came out over 19 nights was encouraging and, I hope, inspiring.    In 2009 the walk around the diocese – ‘Peter’s Progress’ – was a delight; meeting folk in their work and play in places as varied as a children’s hospice, Avonmouth Docks, the farms of Exmoor, military bases, schools, a travellers’ camp, and even going down Swildons Pot – a cave on the Mendips.

But mostly it has been in the ‘well come’ that I have received in each of the many parishes that I have visited, often with Bishop Peter of Taunton on our Deanery Visits.    Working with Archdeacons and the staff team too has been a joy and a delight. So thank you.

Now it is time to say ‘fare well’.    When we bid someone ‘well come’, we hope they will bring us health and wholeness – what the bible calls salvation.    I hope that in the various ‘well comes’ that we have experienced, something of that wholeness and healing Christ wants us to experience has been found.    Now in saying ‘fare well’ the emphasis is on wishing the wholeness and healing will continue to enable each and every one of us to fare well – continuing in the love and hope of God, and our neighbour.

So thank you for the ‘well come’ – and now I bid you ‘fare well’ God be with you.

Good bye.

+Peter Bath: et Well: