More than 500 people attended Carlisle Cathedral at the weekend to say thank you to the Bishop of Carlisle at his farewell service.
The Rt Rev James Newcome is set to retire at the end of August after 21 years’ ministry in Cumbria and he and his wife, Alison, will move to Oxfordshire to be closer to family.
On Sunday afternoon, the congregation heard Bishop James preach on the encouragement he has both offered and experienced during more than two decades leading mission in the county.
The Choral Evensong included anthems sung by the cathedral choir with the congregation also led by a worship band, prior to a time of thanksgiving for the ministry of Bishop James and Alison.
Among those dignitaries attending the service were the county’s new Lord-Lieutenant Alexander Scott and his wife, Samantha, who is the current High Sheriff as well as the mayor of Carlisle Abdul Harid.
As part of the thanksgiving, the county’s former Lord Lieutenant, Clare Hensman, paid tribute to Bishop James and Alison. She said: “James and Alison are some of the kindest people; thinking the best of others. You have always been so welcoming and hospitable, and we will miss that infectious laugh of James’s. We wish you a very happy retirement.”
The wife of the Bishop of Penrith, Emma Saner-Haigh, also paid particular tribute to the work of Alison Newcome in support of clergy spouses.
She said: “You, Alison, have been the example of sacrificial, committed service, knowing the value of the common thread linking clergy spouses. You’ve adapted to spreading events across the diocese, having increasing numbers of working spouses and to the Covid lockdown. On behalf of all clergy spouses of Carlisle Diocese – past and present – many, many warm and grateful thank yous.”
Bishop James and Alison first came to the county in 2002, following his appointment as the Suffragan Bishop of Penrith. Seven years later he was appointed the Diocesan bishop, leading work with other denominations to create England’s first ecumenical county in 2011. He provided pastoral support for communities affected by devastating floods in 2005, 2009 and 2015, the west Cumbrian shootings and most recently the Covid pandemic.
Bishop James has also held a number of national roles for the Church. For 10 years he has been the Church of England’s ‘lead bishop’ on health and social care in the House of Lords and in 2014 he was appointed Clerk of the Closet to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a role which has seen him head up the Ecclesiastical Household.
