[Magdalen] prayerr request

[Roger Stokes]

On 16/04/2015 02:20, Grace Cangialosi wrote:
> Roger, if your bishops actually have no parish experience, what have they been doing as priests before becoming bishop? And how does that qualify them for the role···?

Grace, I said  a *typical* parish.  The median Sunday attendance is 
under 50 per church, certainly not much more thsan that by benefice 
which may have more than one church in it.  A proportion are larger, 
therir parish priests better known to the bishop and so more likely to 
be identified for possible preferment either directly or via a 
specialist ministry. If a bishop has had charge of a parish then it is 
almost certainly an eclectic one and/or some years before.

I have just been checking our Glerical Directory to see if I can get 
some examples.  ++Justin Welby had 7 years in a charge of a benefice, 
leaving there in 2002 to become a Residentiary Canin at Coventry 
Cathedra.  ++Sentamu left his one incumbency ti head up a Missionary 
Society in 1996.

The next three most important bishoprics in England are London (+Richard 
Chartres, other responsibilities while also Vicar of a parish in 
Werstminster), Winchester (+Timothy Dakin, missionary and then heading 
up another Missionary Society) and Durham (+Paul Butler, 10 years in 
charge of Walthamstow until 2004).

My own diocesan, +Alan Smith, also has no experience in charge of a 
parish.  Most (but not all) of them did serve a curacy in a parish for a 
few years before moving on to other responsibilities.  When a bishop 
does venture out for a confirmation that is likely to be in one of a 
relatively few churches as it has to be booked over a year in advance so 
you need a parish where candidates can be guaranteed. Generally they 
will be there just for the service and so not get chance to see the 
parish.  There are, or have been, a few exceptions  who do proper 
visitations but they are unusual.

Roger