June was a joyous, jam-packed month for the Bishop of Norwich. He was President of the Royal Norfolk Show, ordained 15 new deacons and priests and hosted more than 2,000 people over a week of heartfelt ‘thank yous.’
Every three years Bishop Graham and his wife invite volunteers, charity workers, clergy and community leaders to share food, faith and friendship at events held in and around a marquee in their garden.
Marquee Week began with a lunch for 80 incredible children and their guests – each nominated by their Church of England school as a School Champion. They were chosen for exceptional kindness, positivity, leadership, friendship, star quality and service to their school or community.
Retired clergy enjoyed a strawberry tea followed by Evensong at the Cathedral and there were also strawberry teas for churchwardens and licensed lay ministers.
Guests at the Charities’ Lunch included people from organisations which have the bishop as patron, good causes which have held fundraising events in Bishop’s House Garden over the last three years, and projects which received a grant from the Anne French Memorial Trust – which helps fund the work of charities across the Diocese of Norwich. Trustees, staff and service users shared many inspiring stories about the work of the local charities.
There were barbeques for parish safeguarding officers, the parish support team, and clergy and their families from across the diocese. Final statistics included the serving of 2,400 canapes, 550 scones, 450 sausages and 650 ice creams, accompanied by 24 flower arrangements and six hours of live jazz.
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association held an event in the marquee for its stewards as the Bishop of Norwich was President of the Royal Norfolk Show this year.
For two days Bishop Graham and his wife Rachel criss-crossed the Costessey Showground, meeting thousands of people, presenting prizes and awards, admiring champion livestock and agricultural innovations, giving talks, hosting events and using his theme of ‘thriving rural communities’ to start conversations and champion Norfolk’s rural churches.
He said being president of the country’s largest agricultural show was a huge privilege and delight.
His annual environmental award for a young countryside employee or apprentice is always presented at The Royal Norfolk Show and this year Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, was asked to give the prestigious prize to young Holkham forester Mai Sussex.
As the hottest-ever Royal Norfolk Show drew to a close the 16 men and women due to be ordained as priests and deacons were taking part in a retreat in Bishop’s House Garden.
They had proclaimed their faith and pledged their service with the Ordination Oaths and Declarations in the garden in front of the bishop and new assistant diocesan registrar Ed Boukley earlier in the week. At the end of the retreat they joined the Bishop and senior clergy at the Ordination Charge service in Norwich Cathedral.
And then the ordinations themselves – two solemn, joyful and emotional services in Norwich Cathedral with all three bishops, the dean and many friends and family of the new priests and deacons. The Bishop of Norwich prayed “That in their vocation and ministry each may be an instrument of God’s love.”
A few days later he marked the 30th anniversary of his own ordination saying: “Thirty years ago today I answered God’s call to serve as a deacon. I give thanks for God’s faithfulness through every joy and challenge, every celebration and sorrow. What a privilege to serve Christ through his Church, to proclaim the Gospel, and witness God’s grace at work in countless lives.”
At a happy evening service in St Nicholas Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, Bishop Graham licensed the Revd Sharon Plant as Rector of Holkham, Egmere, Warham and Wighton. And there were more celebrations at St John the Baptist, Bressingham, where he licensed the Revd Tracey Caswell as Rector designate of the benefice of Winfarthing and Upper Waveney.
Earlier in June he joined the congregation at St Helen’s, Gateley, near Fakenham, to preach and preside at the Sunday service. With population numbers of the village never recovering after the Black Death he said the church, with no electricity or water, is “Run on the love and generosity of a handful of folk.”
During Refugee Week Bishop Graham visited a weekly women’s cooking group at St Matthew’s, Thorpe Hamlet, for lunch and the launch of their book.
“The group has given the women purpose, dignity, joy and hope. It was very special to join them,” he said. Describing the group, one of the women said: “You gave people hope. You made us feel seen. You reminded us that we still mattered. You helped us believe that we could build a future again.”
The Bishop of Norwich travelled to the neighbouring diocese of Ely for the installation of Bishop Sarah in magnificent Ely Cathedral. “May the prayers of St Etheldreda guard and keep her,” he said.
And on June 26 he attended a Golden Jubilee Mass for the Diocese of East Anglia at St John the Baptist Cathedral in Norwich.
He led a teaching morning for clergy in Norwich Cathedral at the beginning of the month; he presented The Bishop of Norwich Certificate in Christian Learning to people who had completed the course enabling a deeper understanding of the Christian faith; and for Churches Count on Nature Week the bishop, the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, recorded a video highlighting the importance of churchyards to our precious wildlife.
Also in June the bishop showed some of the Diocese of Norwich curates around the Houses of Parliament, where they met MPs and peers, and learned about the work and history of Westminster.
That day he visited the Nova Exhibition in London as a guest of the Israeli Embassy. “Profoundly moving, it tells the horrific story of the evil Hamas attack on the Nova Festival on 7th October 2023. I am grateful to the survivors and bereaved family members who shared their experiences with me,” he said.
As part of his role as a Lord Spiritual he took part in sessions in the House of Lords. He asked whether the Government would consider providing greater support to farmers as they work towards nature recovery as well as producing food, and how the Government is retaining and supporting servicemen and women.
His national commitments included taking part in the Church Commissioners AGM at Lambeth Palace and his work as part of the world-wide Anglican Communion took him to the Anglican Consultative Council in Belfast at the end of the month.
He joined many Christians calling for a just peace in the Holy Land and co-authored a letter about the administrative detention of a Christian Palestinian student.
At home Bishop Graham and Rachel opened their garden in aid of Community Chaplaincy Norfolk which trains and supports volunteer mentors for prison leavers.
Lead picture: The ‘best young handler’ trophy was awarded to Edith Everson by the Bishop of Norwich at the Royal Norfolk Show. Credit: James Bass Photography/ RNAA.