Bishop Graham’s busy Norfolk summer 

Donkeys, bees, new priests, ancient paths, confirmations and candyfloss featured in the Bishop of Norwich’s work across his diocese this summer.

The literal breadth of his role was evident on the day he took Sunday services at St Benedict’s, Gunton, and St Margaret’s Hopton-on-Sea on the east coast, and then travelled to King’s Lynn for the blessing of new facilities in All Saints church.
 
In June they were joyful services at Norwich Cathedral as Bishop Graham ordained six new priests, and five new deacons. He led more celebrations at Norwich Cathedral with the installation of two new canons at the cathedral – the dean of the Roman Catholic cathedral, Father Alan Hodgson, and Virginia Edgecombe, of Billingford, near Dereham.
 
This summer the Bishop visited Salthouse to license Adrian Wolton as associate vicar of the Weybourne Benefice, and Caston, near Watton, to license Vanessa Layfield as rector of the Wayland Benefice. He licensed Richard Stanton as rector of the Timberhill Benefice in Norwich, and licensed Angela Hammett as Rector of the Nar Valley Benefice, at St James the Great, Castle Acre.
 
He also presided over special services for churchwardens, who serve so faithfully across the diocese, and for the Friends of Norwich Cathedral. And in his capacity of Abbot of St Benet’s he arrived by wherry to lead the annual riverside service at St Benet’s Abbey. Read our story about this here.
 
Around the diocese Bishop Graham visited many churches and congregations. He was delighted to confirm 10 people at St Anne’s, church, Earlham, in Norwich, sending them out with candles and hazel trees. At St Faith’s Gaywood, he joined celebrations to mark 50 years of the Anglican Methodist partnership there and he spent an evening out on patrol in Norwich with Norfolk Police, finding out about the work of frontline officers.
 
He climbed a newly-restored windmill, pictured above, to survey the vast and beautiful expanse of his diocese which is below sea level. Andrew Farrell of the Broads Authority took the bishop out to Halvergate marshes, between Norwich and Great Yarmouth, to see the work of the Broads Landscape Partnership Scheme. He was able to admire the craftwork of apprentices from Norwich City College who had worked with experts to restore 200-year-old Mutton’s Mill.
 
When Bishop Graham launched the imaginative Eco Angels Trail, which runs until September 30, linking 10 churches in the Ingworth and Sparham Deanery, he met some of the children who had created life-size sculptures including the King, Greta Thunberg, a womble and Lisa Simpson. Read our story about this here.
 
As the lead bishop for the environment Bishop Graham drew attention to environmental issues on the national and local stage during the General Election campaign, including highlighting the importance of the Climate and Nature Bill, designed to strengthen the national response to the climate emergency. On July 10 he swore allegiance to the King as part of his Oath of Office as a member of the House of Lords in the new Parliament.
 
He promoted the Churches Count on Nature week and the Communion Forest initiative locally and nationally, talking on radio stations across the country about valuing wildlife and planting trees.
 
At Wiveton he spoke at the Net Zero for Rural Churches conference at Wiveton church and he gave the Friends’ Annual Lecture at Wymondham Abbey about the Church of England Environment programme.
 
Bishop Graham joined the National Pilgrimage through Walsingham and also walked many miles as part of his own diocesan pilgrimage days. He particularly enjoys talking to people while out and about, and responding to all kinds of subjects at Q&A sessions. Read our story about Bishop Graham’s pilgrimages here.
 
 Well-known for his own writing on pilgrimage, he was invited to lead the annual Little Gidding Pilgrimage in Huntingdonshire, walking between churches associated with poets and leading reflections en-route.
 
There have been international links too. Bishop Graham led a group of young people from the Diocese of Norwich on a pilgrimage to Taize. and welcomed visitors from Norwich’s twin city of Koblenz in Germany. He joined by a group of German tourists as he lit the commemorative D-Day lamp on the 80th anniversary of the 1944 Normandy landings.
 
The Bishop and his wife, Rachel, opened their garden on 10 Sunday afternoons in aid of local charities. They also hosted a garden party for refugees.
 
Candyfloss, donkeys, sky-divers and royalty were part of two packed days at the Royal Norfolk Show. His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, awarded the Bishop of Norwich Sustainable Environment Young Employee of the Year Award to 21-year-old Beatrice White. Bishop Graham handed out rosettes to prize-winning donkeys in the equine show, took the salute when the RAF Falcons display team landed and made candyfloss at the Diocese of Norwich tent – with the video getting national attention.
 
This article first appeared in the Diocese of Norwich newsletter.
The picture of Bishop Graham at Muttons Mill is courtesy of the Diocese of Norwich.