The Rt Rev James Jones has announced that he will retire as Bishop of Liverpool on his 65th birthday in August.
The bishop has released this letter.
Posted by Peter Owen on Monday, 28 January 2013 at 9:56am GMT | TrackBackHe would have had a very short tenure had he been made Archbishop of Canterbury, as a number of commentators here were advocating!
Posted by: Edward Prebble on Monday, 28 January 2013 at 10:51pm GMTA sad day for the Church of England. Here was a prelate of the Church who was humble enough to admit that he was wrong about the LGBT community. May he enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Posted by: Father Ron Smith on Monday, 28 January 2013 at 11:22pm GMTA good man who has shown real capacity for moral growth.
Posted by: John on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 at 4:49am GMTWith so many retirements there will be quite a change in the bench by this time next year...Blackburn, Manchester, Durham, Bath and Wells, Exeter, Europe probably and perhaps the demise of Wakefield and Ripon as dioceses. What difference will it make I wonder?
Posted by: Perry Butler on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 at 9:12am GMTEdward - not necessarily. I'm sure he would have carried on until 70 had he been named Archbishop. Instead, he will always, and rightly, be remembered for his leadership of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, for which all of us can be grateful.
Posted by: Graham Ward on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 at 10:08am GMTReally special person whose episcopacy over nearly 20 years has been distinguished. Hope he goes to the House of Lords.
Posted by: Anthony Archer on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 at 1:25pm GMT..........and rumour has it he was the second name for Canterbury....but we will never know!!. He has been a fine bishop by all accounts,and will be missed by the diocese but by many in the community at large.
Posted by: Perry Butler on Tuesday, 29 January 2013 at 7:03pm GMT