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Bishop Ronald Oliver Bowlby, Rip 1926-2019

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Bishop Ronald Oliver Bowlby, Rip 1926-2019 INSIDE: February 2020 Page 3 Bishop Christine Hardman’s response to BBC2 documentary Page 5 New Residentiary Canon Director of Mission and Ministry Page 6 Cathedral update Page 8 Rural Strand – Mission and Ministry Leadership Teams BISHOP RONALD OLIVER BOWLBY, RIP 1926-2019 Bishop Ronnie Bowlby and left, pictured with Liz RONNIE Bowlby was our much-loved Dioce- occupation in Germany, Ronnie Bowlby found castle. Throughout his ministry he was pas- Newcastle. san Bishop from 1973 – 1980, before being ap- himself overlooking the devastated city of sionate about changing society in order to A gift Ronnie has left to us is a book he com- pointed Bishop of Southwark. Ronnie enjoyed Cologne. There, amid a sea of rubble and address the issues of the people who least ben- missioned for the Diocese’s centenary when he a long retirement in Shrewsbury from 1991. human misery caused by years of Nazi rule and efitted from it, and particularly those concern- was Bishop of Newcastle, ‘A Social History of Ronnie and Liz (who died in 2015) had five Allied bombing, stood the spires of the city’s ing housing, social services, and attitudes the Diocese of Newcastle 1882 – 1982). The book children (Rachel, Rick, Chris, Anna and Tom); cathedral, miraculously intact. “While gazing towards immigrants. is interesting and very informative about the there are also seven grandchildren (Chris, at this scene,” he later recalled, “I suddenly had Within the Church, Ronnie was a great issues that the Diocese was facing at that time, Bethany, Laura, Helena, Ewan, Alfie and Loui- a strong sense of awareness of the appalling encourager and supporter of women’s minis- and worth a read. In the Epilogue, Ronnie con- sa) and two great-grandchildren (Layla and waste of this conflict… I knew then that I want- try, and had championed this from the 1960s. cludes with an observation which speaks to us Wulfstan). He died on the 21st December, ed to do something with my life that might less- In 1984, he was eventually able to introduce a today, “The perennial temptation of our first 2019, and his funeral was held at St Chad’s en the violence and hatred in the world in some motion about the issue at General Synod, but century (as a Diocese) has been to turn aside Church, Shrewsbury, on the 8th January. The small way.” the journey to this point had not been easy - at from the struggle to hold together a commit- sermon preached at Ronnie’s funeral can be Much of Ronnie’s ministry was to be in the the time of his move to Southwark in 1980, he ment to Christ and a commitment to the world found on the Diocesan website. North East, where he was a curate at St Luke's, commented that “his support of the ordination for which he died. Yet this volume of essays The event which led to Ronnie’s call to Pallion, Sunderland (1952-1956), and then of women had not been popular in the North shows how much has been achieved, and is a ordained ministry is vividly described in the served as Priest in Charge of St Aidan, Billing- E a s t ”. A matter to which he referred to again fitting tribute to those who did so much to obituary for him in The Times newspaper ham (1956-1966). It was after a period in the just before he died, when he said that one of his extend God’s Kingdom at a time of rapid and (28th December, 2019), ‘In 1945, as a 19-year- South, as Vicar of Croydon (1966-1972), that he greatest joys was to see that the region had now unprecedented change. The Struggle must Con- old Household Cavalry officer in the army of returned to the North East as Bishop of New- been able to receive a woman as Bishop of tinue.” 2 generous engaged open Bishops’ Diaries February This is not a full list of the Bishop’s engagements, but includes the items we think might be of particular interest to you. BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE Lent 2020 1st 10.00am Parish Share Consultation meeting 2nd 10.00am Heddon on the Wall, Dedication of New Lighting Scheme 4.00pm Newbiggin Hall, St. Wilfrid, Dedication of Refurbishment Works 3rd 10.30am Pioneer Learning Community 4th 8.00am Ecumenical Church Leaders: Morning Prayer 5th 9.30am Senior staff meeting, Newcastle Cathedral Care for God’s 7.30pm Clergy Supper 9th 10.00am Riding Mill 10th – 13th General Synod BISHOP OF BERWICK 1st 10.00am Parish Share Consultation meeting 2nd 10.00am St Michael’s Byker Creation 2nd 4.00pm Anna Chaplains’ Commission 3rd Praying the Deaneries 3rd 7.00pm Licencing, Holy Trinity Jesmond 5th 9.30am Senior staff meeting, Newcastle Cathedral 10-13th General Synod 16th St Aldate’s Oxford 17th Selection Oversight 8 – Formation Criteria Major Consultation, London 20th BAP interviewing 20th 7.00pm Clergy dinner 25th Ministry Council, London 27th 12.00pm Roadblocks Group meeting, York Gospel Readings This Lent, we hope both adults and children might church live in greater harmony with God, neighbour engage in God’s plea for us to “Care for Creation”. It is and nature. Saturday Mark 4.35-end before Lent Matthew an opportunity for us to rebuild our relationship with It has been inspired and informed by the Archbishop our planet, and in turn with the God who is Lord of of Canterbury’s 2020 Lent Book, Saying Yes to Life by Sunday Luke 2.22-40 6.25-end everything. During this time, we hope you might Ruth Valerio (SPCK). Monday Mark 5.1-20 Monday Mark 8. 11-13 engage in prayer, learn more about the remarkable There are many ways to get involved in Lent. A Tuesday Mark 5.2-21 end Tuesday Mark 8.14-21 world we have been given and build habits that last 40-day reflection booklet for adults and a version Wednesday Mark 6.1-6a Wednesday Mark 8.22-26 beyond the season to protect and honour the earth. for children are available to buy at https://www. Thursday Mark 6.7-13 Thursday Mark 8.27-33 A statement from Archbishop Justin Welby and chpublishing.co.uk/features/live-lent . There are free Friday Mark 6.14-29 Friday Mark 8.34-9.1 Archbishop John Sentamu. digital daily reflections available on the forthcoming Saturday Mark 6.30-34 Saturday Mark 9.2-13 #LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation is the Church of #LiveLent app, by email, social media, smart speakers England’s Lent Campaign for 2020. With weekly themes and more to come. 3rd Sunday Sunday Matthew 17.1-9 shaped around the first Genesis account of creation, If you’ve not already done so, sign up for Lent and before Lent Matthew 5.13-20 Monday Mark 9.14-29 it explores the urgent need for humans to value and other seasonal email reflections at https://www. Monday Mark 6.53-end Tuesday Mark 9.30-37 protect the abundance God has created. This year’s churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/lent- Tuesday Mark 7.1-13 Ash Wednesday Matthew 6. 1-6, #LiveLent challenge offers 40 short reflections and 2020-church-resources Wednesday Mark 7.14-23 16-21 suggested actions to help you, your family and your Thursday Mark 7.24-30 or John 8.1-11 Friday Mark 7.31-end Thursday Luke 9.22-25 Saturday Mark 8.1-10 Friday Matthew 9. 14-15 2nd Sunday Saturday Luke 5.27-32 Comings & Goings Safeguarding, APPOINTMENTS Residentiary Canon Director of Mission The Revd Rob Saner-Haigh, currently and Ministry for the Diocese from 29th Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity, Kendal in March. the Diocese of Cumbria, is going to be Past Cases Review 2 In 2007, the Church of England commissioned a Past under ‘Safeguarding’. Cases Review, which sought to look at the handling Individuals who wish to make representations by the Church of child protection cases over many to the PCR2 process or who need to come forward CONTACT US years. The House of Bishops wants to ensure that our with information or make any disclosures regarding churches and church-related activities are as safe as church related abuse are encouraged to make direct The Link, Church House, St John’s Terrace, possible for children, young people and vulnerable contact with the Independent Reviewer, Liz North Shields. NE29 6HS. adults, and all dioceses have therefore been asked to Benson, [email protected] Tel: (0191) 270 4100. Email: [email protected] extend the review in 2019 and 2020 to include The Safeguarding Adviser employed by Newcastle Facebook: m.me/ncldiocese children, young people and vulnerable adults. Diocese, Ruth Rogan, can also be contacted on 07825 Twitter: @ncldiocese This process is called Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2), 167 016 or email [email protected]. Instagram: @NclDiocese and requires Bishop Christine to make enquiries Recognising that this may not feel safe for those at parish level as well as commissioning an with a lived experience of abuse from within the Link is produced ten times a year by the Diocese of Newcastle, with joint independent reviewer to review diocesan files for church, a dedicated telephone helpline issues for August/September and December/January. Views expressed clergy, readers, authorised lay ministers, and diocesan - 0800 80 20 20 - operated independently from are not necessarily those of the Diocese or the editor. employees whose work falls within the scope of the the church, by the NSPCC, has been set up.
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