Dear Friends,
I write on behalf of the Churchwardens of all our Churches.
If you were in Church this morning, you would have heard the following announcement:
After a successful interview earlier this month, the Bishop of Lynn has offered and the Revd Canon Dr Andrew Bishop SSC, at present the Vicar of Croydon (Croydon Minster, St John the Baptist, with St George, Waddon), in the Diocese of Southwark, has accepted the post of Priest in Charge of the Walsingham, Houghton and Barsham benefice and Hempton with Pudding Norton (to be held in plurality).
Please pray for Fr Andrew and his wife Alice and their family as they prepare to move in the summer.
Arrangements for Fr Andrew to be Licensed and Installed are being made by the Bishop of Norwich’s office in consultation with others.
We are now able to add to the announcement:
Fr Andrew was ordained in 1993 and has been a parish priest, Residentiary Canon and university chaplain, having trained as a priest at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. Norwich will be the fifth Diocese in which he has served. He is married to Alice and has four adult children and a daughter in law. He is author of two books.
On his appointment Fr Andrew says:
“I have savoured each place in which I have served as a priest, including Croydon, and now look forward to serving as parish priest in the Walsingham Benefice under the care of the Bishop of Richborough. I have known Walsingham as a pilgrim throughout my adult life and Alice and I look forward to getting to know it as residents and meeting the people of each of the churches of the Benefice. Please pray for me and my family as we prepare to move and begin a new season of priestly ministry. May Our Lady of Walsingham pray for us.”
Best wishes,
Fr Andrew
We hope that you will all join us in rejoicing at this wonderful news!
With all good wishes,
Stephen Parkinson
Churchwarden
S.Mary & All Saints, Little Walsingham
