When the Bishop of Norwich took a service in Blofield church he was given a wooden cross made by one of the church bellringers – crafted from wood which was once part of the medieval seats of St Benet’s Abbey.
Aubrey Forster has made crosses for the past five Bishops of Norwich, each of whom is also Abbot of ruined St Benet’s, on the Broads.
Bishop Graham preached and presided at Blofield, drawing on biblical imagery of foxes and hens, and called it ‘A benefice that feels as if it is living well under the shadow of God’s wings and quietly being prophetic in its communities. No act of love is too small, no witness of hope is too timid.’
More than 50 miles away, at beautiful South Wootton church, with its mighty stone lions guarding a square Norman font, Bishop Graham was impressed by the joyful singing of the congregation when he took a Sunday service.
Not all his church visits across the diocese were for services. At Ashmanaugh he joined Father Ben Bradshaw as he came to the end of a 24-hour prayer vigil. Father Ben had been praying for the people and places of his benefice of St Benedicts – and also of Zimbabwe. He and his family will visit Zimbabwe this summer and are raising money to help some of the poorest children of the world access education. His optician wife will provide free eye care and Ben will work with trainee priests.
In Holt parish church Bishop Graham was interviewed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust ambassador and wildlife author Nick Acheson. The church was packed for their conversation, in aid of the Felbreck Trust which runs small nature reserves in north Norfolk. “After an electric conversation about nature, climate and the Church of England one person said, ‘Right, I’m going back to church!’” said Bishop Graham.
The bishop also took part in two big charity celebration evenings. At the Norfolk Showground more than 1,000 people marked 20 years of the Norfolk Community Foundation and the power of local giving.
The following day the bishop travelled to Sandringham to help celebrate 85 years of Norfolk Citizens Advice. Since 1940 the charity has helped more than a million people.
Closer to home he took services at Norwich Cathedral and met Paddington Bear on a bench in Norwich Cathedral Close where he talked, for World Book Day, about his own favourite childhood book, and its Norfolk links.
Bishop Graham took part in Diocesan Synod in Dereham in March. Slightly further afield he visited the neighbouring diocese of Ely to for a meeting of eastern region bishops and diocesan secretaries. He spoke at a conference of diocesan net zero and environment officers held at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge – where he got to sit in a snowmobile!
Nationally there was coverage of his election, by fellow bishops who sit in the Lords, to the Crown Nominations Commission – giving him a role in selecting the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Graham’s duties in the House of Lords in March included leading prayers for a week. He also took the Ash Wednesday service for Parliamentary colleagues in St Mary’s Undercroft chapel in the Palace of Westminster.
Official proceedings in the House of Lords begin with a psalm and prayers every day. During his week leading prayers Bishop Graham took part in several debates and Q&A sessions with government ministers, on subjects ranging from Ukraine to trade in endangered wildlife.
Bishop Graham spent the final few days of March in Jerusalem and the West Bank as part of a series of visits from Anglican bishops during the Canterbury vacancy, to support Palestinian Christians and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem.
As well as meeting Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem and Ramallah he followed the route Jesus took, carrying his cross, through Jerusalem on Good Friday to the site of his crucifixion. He visited the ancient church built over the hill of Calvary and the garden tomb of the resurrection – and videos of Bishop Graham’s reflections will be released during Holy Week and Easter.
