The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner has retired as Bishop of Chichester after more than a decade leading the Diocese of Chichester, bringing to a close a ministry centred on safeguarding, pastoral care and theological engagement across Sussex.
Since his appointment in 2012, Bishop Martin has been committed to ensuring that effective safeguarding was a clear and properly resourced priority within the diocese. Alongside this, he sought to promote renewal in all-age mission, pastoral care and theological engagement for both clergy and laity alike.
In a farewell statement released this week, Bishop Martin reflected on his years serving the diocese. “It has been an enormous privilege to work with so many gifted and committed people during my time in Chichester and I am deeply grateful for our partnership in apostolic mission,” he said.
“A new diocesan bishop will bring fresh vision and energy, and be supported by a strong, confident team. I give thanks to God for the call to serve in this diocese and also ask pardon from anyone I have offended. I will hold this joyful household of faith in my prayers as its future unfolds.”
In more recent years Bishop Martin also represented the Church of England in its close relationship with the Roman Catholic Church. He served as a Fraternal Delegate at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, convened by the late Pope Francis. Following his retirement on Sunday May 31, Bishop Martin will take a short break before beginning parochial duties later in the summer. He plans to spend June on retreat at a monastery in France dedicated to St Peter before travelling overland to Rome to attend mass at St Peter’s Basilica.
“I am looking forward to spending the next two years on the south coast and to being with and alongside the community I will serve,” he added.
The bishop’s final service as Bishop of Chichester took place on Sunday May 31, at St Mary’s Church, Rye. Until a new Bishop of Chichester is appointed, the Rt Revd Will Hazlewood, Bishop of Lewes, will undertake the formal duties of acting bishop, working alongside the diocese’s suffragan bishops and in consultation with the Bishops’ Council.
The warmth shown to Bishop Martin at St Mary’s, Rye was palpable. It was his last episcopal service and was very emotional. There was a sense of both gratitude and reflection as worshippers came together to give thanks for Bishop Martin’s years of service, pastoral care and commitment to the life of the Church. While farewells are never easy, the occasion was also one of celebration recognising a ministry that has touched countless parishes, clergy and communities across Sussex.
He was known for his deep care, hospitality and dedication to the spiritual welfare of his flock. He was respected for leading the diocese through a difficult period of safeguarding failures with resolve and a focus on transparency.
He was always appreciative of the arts, often using music, paintings and creative initiatives to communicate the Christian faith.
He was known for being approachable and he was often seen cycling through his parishes on a ‘Brompton’ bike, making him an engaged, highly visible presence among his people.
Rector Paul White commented, “About six months ago, at the end of the service in Winchelsea to install the new Rector, Bishop Martin asked me for a private word. He told me that he was about to announce his retirement from the diocese and asked if he could come to St Mary’s in Rye to mark his final day at the eastern end of the diocese. I told Bishop Martin that he would be greatly missed by me and by many others. Although I don’t agree with all of Bishop Martin’s views I have always found him to care deeply for his clergy and to take parish ministry seriously, which not all bishops do.
“Bishop Martin said that he wanted to join in with one of our regular evensongs. However, as these things do, the list of invitees grew like topsy and the service was packed out with bishops, archdeacons, canons, the Chancellor of the diocese and we were also joined by Mr Andrew Blackman, the Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, the King’s representative in the county. So, not really a usual evensong.
“We were all carried away by the wonderful music: thank you to all those who sang and played and conducted. Bishop Martin gave a moving homily. It was a lovely service, followed by some great refreshments – thank you to all those who did the catering. It was a great privilege to play host to this service and we all wish Bishop Martin well as he moves into his semi-retirement role in Folkestone.”
Image Credits: Kt bruce .
It certainly wasn’t a usual evensong! An enormous amount of work was put in by clergy, church staff, churchwardens, choir, and of course our amazing hospitality team who looked extra-sharp in their new aprons. The front entrance area of the church has been cleaned of its green coating, making one of Rye’s biggest tourist attractions (and frequent concert venue) smarter for its very many visitors.
And all this was done at fairly short notice, which just shows what a great team St. Mary’s can field. I’m not sure if most Rye residents are aware how much goes on in the “big church” every week, both religious and secular, and what a lovely community hub it is. Sunday afternoon was a very formal, traditional event, a big contrast to our usual Sunday mornings with toddlers in the aisle, dogs under the pews, random incursions by tourists, and much happy chaos during the “peace” and after the service as we consume hot drinks, biscuits and cake. Somehow we manage to combine tradition and friendliness, and I’ve never been to a church I like more.