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Bishop’s farewell marked by packed cathedral

Keith Mindham Bishop Mike Harrison smiling at the camera while wearing his Pontifical vestments and standing in front of an alter. Keith Mindham
The Bishop’s farewell was marked by a packed cathedral in Suffolk

An Anglican bishop said he was "delighted" to have accepted a senior leadership position in the Church of England but would be sad to leave his county.

Hundreds of people across Suffolk gathered at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, to bid farewell to the Right Reverend Mike Harrison, Bishop of Dunwich.

Bishop Harrison first took up his role in 2016 but after eight years he is moving on to become the Diocesan Bishop of Exeter.

He said: "While I am delighted and excited to be the next Bishop of Exeter it will be with considerable sadness that I leave the people and county of Suffolk after eight years as the Bishop of Dunwich."

Keith Mindham Joe Hawes, Mike Harrison and Martin Seeley stand in a row wearing their Anglican Pontifical vestments. They are all smiling at the camera and standing in front of an altar. Keith Mindham
Bishop Mike Harrison (centre) with the Right Reverend Martin Seeley (right) and the Very Reverend Joe Hawes

Before accepting the role in Suffolk, Dr Harrison had been the director of mission and ministry in the Diocese of Leicester for ten years.

"I was not familiar with Suffolk before arriving in February 2016, but the hospitality, creativity and good humour of so many in my time here means I will leave with deep gratitude and affection for the diocese and county," Bishop Harrison added.

The former management consultant and social worker was the 10th Bishop of Dunwich, and he focused on growth in the Church of England during his tenure.

The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, said Bishop Harrison has been his right hand for many years.

He said: "Mike is warm and outgoing with a deep spirituality as well as a creative intelligence."

Bishop Seeley added Bishop Harrison is also a "fine teacher, preacher and pastor, he is ideally equipped to lead the community in Devon".

A spokesperson for the cathedral said Bishop Harrison spent his first Christmas in Suffolk visiting inmates of HMP Highpoint near Newmarket.

In 2017 he joined Bishop Seeley in an 70-mile pilgrimage over 11 days, where they walked from Dunwich to Bury St Edmunds to meet communities and learn more of the challenges they face.

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