Church leaders meet their future bishop

MEMBERS of Guernsey and Jersey’s Anglican churches had the opportunity to talk to the next Bishop of Salisbury recently.

Representatives of Guernsey’s Anglican Church met the future Bishop of Salisbury, Dean Stephen Lake, recently. Left to right: St Martin’s rector the Rev. Daniel Foote, the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker, the Rev. Juliet Robilliard, associate priest at St Andrew’s, the Rev. Peter Graysmith from Town Church and St John’s Church, Mr Lake, the Rev. David Stolton from Sark, the Rev. Beverley Herve, curate at Cobo/Castel, the Rev. Matthew Barrett, Town Church rector and vicar of St John’s, Vice-Dean the Rev. Penny Graysmith, St Peter’s rector the Rev. Dr Adrian Datta, and the Rev. Tony Fowler and the Rev. Jan Fowler from Alderney. (Photograph by the Rev. Claire Claxton, Forest rector)

Organised by Guernsey Dean the Very Rev, Tim Barker and his opposite number in Jersey - the Very Rev. Mike Keirle - the islands held a joint gathering in Salisbury.

It was also an opportunity to meet some of the people in the Diocese of Salisbury with whom they will be working in the years to come, when the islands formally switch from the Diocese of Winchester.

‘And it was a chance to allow Guernsey and Jersey the chance to meet and get to know each other, because we don’t really have many opportunities to meet,’ said Mr Barker.

About 30 members of the clergy from the islands went along and spent two nights at Sarum College in Salisbury.

It provided them with a time for reflection and the ability to talk to each other about the challenges and opportunities facing the ministry.

‘But the icing on the cake was that we were able to meet Stephen Lake who’s going to be the new Bishop of Salisbury and will also be the bishop for the Channel Islands,’ said Mr Barker.

Each island’s representatives spent about 45 minutes talking to Mr Lake, who is due to take up the role in the coming months.

The first part of the process will see him having his election confirmed as bishop in London on 1 April, after which on 25 April he will be consecrated and ordained at Southwark Cathedral.

He will then have to pay homage to the Queen, and only after that he will be installed as bishop at Salisbury Cathedral.

Guernsey’s States also has to approve the formal change from Winchester to Salisbury, something which Jersey has already agreed, and that has to then go to the Queen in Counsel before being ratified by the Royal Court.

Only after all that is done will Mr Lake be likely to pay a visit to the Channel Islands.

Mr Barker thought that this would most probably be in the autumn.