Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Bishop retires as he battles cancer
Leading cleric leaves early to continue recovering from leukaemia:
ONE of the West’s most senior bishops yesterday announced his early retirement on medical grounds as he continues to recover from treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia.
The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Hancock, has been bishop of the diocese since 2014.
He has been receiving treatment since last August but said that his hopes of returning to work soon were unrealistic.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, yesterday saluted his work, saying “his commitment to changing the culture and shining a light in dark places was an inspiration to us all”.
In a letter to the diocese Bishop Peter wrote that while he had been hoping to return to work before long, his hospital consultant has said he will need to spend many months recovering and will initially be unable to lead services in public, use public transport or go into indoor public spaces.
He said: “So after much prayer and reflection, I believe this means that I need to take early retirement on medical grounds.
“After seven years as Bishop of Bath and Wells I could not be more grateful for all the opportunities that I have had to serve the diocese and during this time I have met so many inspiring, faithful, creative, and courageous people and visited so many wonderful places.
“I don’t yet know what lies ahead, but I am sure the Lord will continue to lead and guide me and provide opportunities for ministry and service in the future. I remain hopeful and confident in his future for me.”
He said he was aware what a challenging time it was for the Church of England, as churches had closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am very aware of the challenges we are all facing and the extra burdens and responsibilities that we are all carrying. I am therefore particularly grateful for all that you are doing to sustain and support the life of the diocese and especially for all that Bishop Ruth has been doing as acting Diocesan Bishop.”
The Bishop of Taunton, the Rt Rev Ruth Worsley, will continue to lead the diocese while the process of finding a new Bishop of Bath and Wells begins.
So after much prayer and reflection, I believe this means that I need to take early retirement on medical grounds RT REV PETER HANCOCK
She said: “Bishop Peter has been a wonderful, warm and wise friend and colleague in the past five and a half years of ministry we have shared together in Bath and Wells. I shall miss him terribly. Clearly it is with sadness that we hear the news that he will not be returning to minister as bishop amongst us.
“However, his recovery and health are of greater importance at this time and our prayers continue for Peter, Jane and the whole family.”
The title of Bishop of Bath and Wells dates back more than 1,000 years to 909 – Bishop Peter, who has four adult children, succeeded Peter Price in 2014.
Bishop Peter began his ministry in the Diocese of Salisbury in 1980, including time serving his curacy at Radipole near Weymouth in Dorset before becoming a vicar in Hampshire.
Archbishop Justin said: “I would like to thank Peter for more than 40 years of dedicated ministry in the church. Anyone who has worked with him or spent time with him will know the deep authenticity of his personal faith and pastoral concern. I have got to know Peter well during his nearly four years as lead safeguarding bishop, where his commitment to changing the culture and shining a light in dark places was an inspiration to us all.
“He led the Church’s response to IICSA [Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse], sitting through all three hearings. I know the enormous toll this took on him, but he always had the welfare of survivors at heart.”
A farewell service for Bishop Peter is being planned for Saturday, May 22. Details for this service are still to be worked out.