Bishop Tony announces plans to retire in 2020
The Bishop of Sherwood, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, has announced that he will retire on 22nd March 2020, after 42 years in ordained ministry.
Bishop Tony, who will be 68 upon his retirement, said “It has been a great privilege to serve in the diocese and to be part of its vision for Growing Disciples in every parish”.
Sharing the good news of Jesus has been at the heart of Bishop Tony’s ministry and, along with his wife Lucille, he has led 39 Seed Scattering outreach weekends across the diocese. He is currently heading up the planning for the oneLIFE mission that is coming to Southwell & Nottingham on September 12, 2019.
Working with the poor and the marginalised has also been a major part of his life and he is a long-time friend and supporter of Christians Against Poverty, as well as supporting various groups and charities across the diocese.
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams said “Bishop Tony has been a tremendously encouraging servant of God in this diocese, with an untiring love for sharing the good news of Jesus, especially with those beyond the fringes of the church, or struggling on the margins of society. He is a big-hearted evangelist with a wide vision for the impact the church can have in serving the poor, yet equally himself when supporting leaders in sport, business and civic life.”
Bishop Tony was consecrated as the Bishop of Sherwood by the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd John Sentamu, at York Minster on Tuesday, 21st March 2006.
He served his first curacy in Edgware, North London, then became a curate at St Mary’s Haughton Green in Manchester Diocese before moving to be Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Bacup. He then became Rector of Holy Trinity Rusholme, also in Manchester and on the edge of Moss Side for 15 years. During his time at Moss Side he was the chaplain for Manchester City Football Club and also to Greater Manchester Police.
Another of Bishop Tony’s loves is sport – he played hockey for England Schoolboys – and in 2015 he was commissioned as the Archbishops’ Sport Ambassador, working to strengthen links between the Church and sport at all levels.
A Service of Farewell will be held at Southwell Minster on Sunday 22nd March 2020 at 3.30 pm.
