The new Bishop of Ramsbury is ordained and consecrated

The Rt Revd Dr Andrew Paul Rumsey, who has become the 17th Bishop to hold the ancient title and the 6th Bishop of Ramsbury since it came back into use in the 1970s, said:

“How good to be here. Having been duly ordained, installed and welcomed, I’m so glad to be embarking on ministry with you in the Diocese of Salisbury.

“The ancient see of Ramsbury reaches back to the year 909 and hallows a landscape with such a rich and mysterious spirituality. I have been poring over maps of Wiltshire and marvelling at the variegated nature of our new home - and enjoying the poetry of its place-names!“

The area title gives the Bishop of Ramsbury responsibility mainly for the Wiltshire parishes in the Diocese of Salisbury. Bishop Andrew will share in ministry and mission across the Diocese with the Bishop of Salisbury and the Bishop of Sherborne. One of his responsibilities will be to chair the new Mission and Ministry Council.

Bishop Andrew said: “The Church of England’s claim to be ‘a Christian presence in every community’ is well-founded and I hope my role will be to encourage and extend this presence, which is a priceless legacy and so vital in our unsettled times. It will be a privilege to come to know you, congregations and communities.

“People will be my first priority, as I travel the area, chair the new Mission and Ministry Council and work with Bishop Nicholas, Bishop Karen and Archdeacons Alan and Sue, to support the life and faith of the local church.

“God is in this place, and I look forward to us serving him together.”

Bishop Andrew is the author of the highly acclaimed “Parish – An Anglican theology of place”. He is married to Rebecca, who was born in Marlborough, and they have three children: Grace (17), Jonah (15) and Talitha (12).

The Bishop of Salisbury, Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam said:

“The life and work of a Bishop is a serious calling, walking close to God with people on your heart and overseeing the Church in the Diocese of Salisbury. We are glad to welcome Andrew Rumsey as he arrives among us as Bishop of Ramsbury.  

“We hope that he, Rebecca and their children will quickly feel at home here and that Andrew will minister to the people of Wiltshire he has come to serve.”

The Bishop of Sherborne, Rt Revd Karen Gorham said:

‘It is a joy to welcome Andrew and I look forward to working with him as we, led by Bishop Nicholas, continue to serve the communities and churches of Dorset and Wiltshire.’

Bishop Andrew was joined by his family at the service of ordination, where the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said, as part of the service; “You cannot bear the weight of this calling in your own strength, but only by the grace and power of God”.

Archbishop Justin also presented Bishop Andrew with his episcopal ring, which is a gift from the Rt Revd John Neale, the 11th Bishop of Ramsbury as well as a silver and amethyst pectoral cross and an oak staff both gifts from his previous parishes.

As well as being an author, whose writing centres on themes of place and local identity, Bishop Andrew is also a musician with a longstanding interest in songwriting & popular music.

The new Bishop comes from a long line of clergy and his father was ordained at Southwark cathedral in 1961. He was Team Rector of St Mary, Oxted in Surrey. His appointment was announced by Downing Street in October last year.

Tomorrow Bishop Andrew will be welcomed into Salisbury Cathedral where he begins his ministry as Bishop of Ramsbury. The family moved into their new home in Marlborough earlier this month.

More pictures will be available on Monday 28th January.