Suffolk’s incoming bishop has arrived in the county on a whistle-stop tour to meet children, clergy and parishioners.
The Rt Revd Dr Joanne Grenfell will take up her position as Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich later this year.
But in the meantime, she was on a fact-finding mission to start discovering more about the county and why it is so special – and how she can make a difference in the community.
Bishop Joanne’s visit included engagements at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Debenham Church of England High School, meeting church members at St Michael’s Church in Framlingham, and at a community outreach project in St Peter’s Church, Stoke Park, Ipswich.
Bishop Joanne, 53, was accompanied by her husband, the Revd Dr James Grenfell, 55, who is Chaplain to the University of East London. The couple married in 1998 and two years later they were both ordained Deacon at a service in Liverpool Cathedral. They have two sons and a daughter ranging from 15 to 22years old.
"There is lots that will be new for me here. I’m keen to visit, listen and learn," says Bishop Joanne, who is currently Bishop of Stepney in London.
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Described as someone who is unflappable and unafraid of the challenges ahead, Bishop Joanne brings a deep interest in creating greater equity, diversity and inclusion.
She is the Lead Safeguarding Bishop for the Church of England – and says that in that role she is committed to building on improvements that are already being made in safeguarding, and to supporting colleagues and volunteers so that everyone can play their part in continuing to create a safer church.
"We can all contribute to a culture where victims and survivors are seen, heard, cared for, and learned from," she says, adding, "I am looking forward to working with safeguarding professionals and volunteers across the diocese."
Looking ahead to taking up the position, Bishop Joanne is keen to put young people at the heart of how she learns to evolve her role in Suffolk.
She recalls how, as a young adult, she felt sad and overwhelmed on a trip to New York – but "I had a deep and powerful experience of Jesus sitting down next to me in a busy city church, reassuring me that all would be well, and promising to be alongside me. It was from that moment that I felt a sense of call to serve him in ministry. I want to walk alongside young people as they find their own relationship with God, to acknowledge their joys and sorrows, and to see them grow into people who love and serve him in every area of their lives," says Bishop Joanne.
Her priorities for beginning her new role include, "Understanding how the diocese works and getting to know the many people who serve within it. And looking outwards, to the whole county, understanding how important agriculture is for Suffolk and learning more about the issues facing farmers in our county."
A spiritual thinker, she has co-written a book 'Who do you say I am?’ which is described as Lent and Easter Reflections for a Holy City. Reflections by Bishop Joanne, poems by Bishop Adam Atkinson, and illustrations by Revd Ali Mulroy explore discipleship in today’s world, touching on contemporary themes such as identity, truth telling, violence, abuse, racism, and belonging as followers of Jesus.
Bishop Joanne has been involved in campaigns for justice, including seeking to find the truth in a high-profile murder case. She is supporting the family of Jason Moore in their campaign to bring his case to appeal and has even been instrumental in locating a vital witness whom the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) claimed it had not been able to find.
Today she wants to ensure that the doors of Suffolk’s churches are thrown open and that there is a place in them for everyone to find their own sense of faith and purpose.
Bishop Joanne will take up her new post towards the end of this year, with a welcome service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
Picture credit: Keith Mindham