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Dear <<First Name>>,

As we bid farewell to our Bishop, we are sending this to recipients of Grapevine and Working Together as a one-off. Forgive us if you get this twice! Click here to view this email in your browser
This is a special edition, celebrating Bishop Nicholas.
 
A Man of the People
‘A man of the people and a champion of "the lost, the last and the least”, a Bishop that our Diocese has come to know and love.’

That is how Bishop Nicholas, the 78th Bishop of Salisbury, will be remembered.

And from Bishop Nicholas himself, during the Evensong to mark his retirement, this prayer:

"Lord God, Thou hast appointed me in the church as bishop and pastor. Thou seest how unfit I am to attend to such a great and difficult office, and if it had not been for Thy help, I would long since have ruined everything. Therefore, I call upon Thee.

"Amen to that. I might have ruined everything. If I haven’t, thanks be to God." 

Read more...
 
Memories of Bishop Nicholas
As the 78th Bishop of Salisbury retires, we commemorate his ten years of service with just some of the many memories and thanks from those he has touched, far and wide.
"A great and oustanding supportive friend"
Photo by Ash Mills

"Bishop Nicholas has been a great and outstanding supportive friend for the Episcopal Church of Sudan in our very longstanding partnership with the Diocese of Salisbury.
"It was an honour for me to have attended his enthronement in 2011 and since then I have visited Salisbury many times upon Bishop Nicholas' invitation including the 40th anniversary of the Salisbury- Sudan Link, representing Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, then the Primate of the Sudan.
"For ten years we have travelled together through many difficult and challenging times of conflict, famine, Covid-19 pandemic, education, relief and joy, and throughout, his commitment, inspiring faith, prayers and practical support, have meant a lot to us and have helped sustain us and ensured that here in the Episcopal Church of Sudan, we are not forgotten, and we are never alone. His home in the Close has been my second home whenever I am in England.
"We will very much miss his constant loyalty, commitment and friendship and thank God for the ministry we have shared. We wish him and his wife Helen well and a long and happy retirement."
The Most Revd Ezekiel Kondo, Primate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and Archbishop of Khartoum

"As the Sudans Partnership Committee we are enormously thankful for the Bishop’s unfailing support and commitment to our work through all the changes that our relationship with Sudans has challenged, tested and brought us great joy too. Throughout his time leading our diocese, he has worked assiduously to maintain very good working relationships with the two primates Abps Ezekiel Kondo and Justin Badi which we continue to enjoy today. Mrs Helen Holtam’s enthusiasm for our Medical Link and especially organizing and hosting the annual Garden Fete at South Canonry has kept this work in the forefront of our Sudans Partnership and our Diocese. We hold Bishop Nicholas, Mrs Helen Holtam and the people of the Sudan and South Sudan in our prayers."
Canon Ian Woodward, Chair of the Salisbury-Sudans Link
"The Church of England has been a stronger and better place for having him"
Photo by Ash Mills

"Salisbury Diocese has been greatly blessed by the ministry of Bishop Nicholas. I enjoyed enormously having him as a colleague and neighbour across The Close for six years because it was natural to have trust and confidence in his leadership, and he could always see the humour and irony in situations.  Always his own person he has nevertheless been compassionate, shrewd and courageous - important qualities in a bishop. The tasks of a bishop are to sanctify, teach and govern and Bishop Nick has done all three with enormous integrity whilst bearing the challenging burdens of episcopal life which very few see.  He has at times been a bold voice and has proclaimed the Church’s messages on our climate emergency and social inclusion with unflinching determination.  The Church of England has been a stronger and better place for having him on the Bench of Bishops and the parishes of Wiltshire and Dorset have been immensely lucky to have been able to call him their own.  Diolch yn fawr iawn +Nick!"
The Rt Revd June Osborne, Bishop of Llandaff and former Dean of Salisbury

"Thanks be to God for years of dedicated ministry in the Diocese of Salisbury and prayers for your retirement, Bishop Nicholas."
The Rt Revd Dr Graham Kings, Mission Theologian in the Anglican Communion
"A true pastor to his flock"
"Two very happy memories of Bishop Nick, captured here in pictures from the photo album.
"First of all, a visit to St Mary's Church, West Moors in 2015. Everyone happy and laughing and Bishop Nick clearly delighting in being in a parish church, a true pastor to his flock!
"The second picture was taken in 2012 - Bishop Nick getting to know Wimborne Deanery with Rural Dean Chris Tebbutt and me, pictured outside East Dorset District Council offices with Judith Plumley, then Head of Community, Steve Wellesby Communications Officer and Cllr Alex Clarke.

"And giving thanks at Diocesan Synod on behalf of the House of Laity, I said:
"Ten wonderful years, Bishop Nick; we’ve been challenged and inspired; we’ve felt proud to have a bishop who speaks out for justice, for climate change and our environment.  
"Thank you for listening – from the very beginning with your invitation ‘Let’s Talk’. 
"Thank you for urging us to ‘Renew our Hope’ – something we will long remember.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, your support and encouragement in our local communities and in our churches. 
"We have felt cared for - and loved.  
"It’s hard to say good-bye – so simply, God be with you and Helen – and thank you!"
Gillian Clarke, Chair of the House of Laity, Diocesan Synod
"Very refreshing to see a Bishop involve himself"
Photos by Ash Mills and Richard Kirlew

"I have had the privilege of accompanying Bishop Nicholas on at least four occasions during my time as Rural Officer for Dorset. These included a visit to a very large, mainly arable farm, the Dorset County Show and the Livestock Centre in Salisbury.
"When we visited the large farm, and although the Bishop did not come to the Diocese from a rural parish, he demonstrated the amazing ability to be able to relate directly to the farm manager and the staff. He was extremely impressed to see how the farm was run on very eco-friendly grounds and yet made a good profit. One would have imagined that he had been visiting farms most of his life.

"Again, at the Dorset County Show, he made friends with farmers, asking hugely relevant questions from the intricate animal management side of things to the politics of what was going on then, particularly Brexit issues.
"When Bishop Nicholas met the staff and farmers at the Livestock Centre, he made firm friends again and was widely photographed in a pen of sheep, with endless quips about “which one is your flock”!
"So it has been a privilege and a joy to have been able to work closely with Bishop Nicholas in several rural settings. I have felt so supported by him as well in the fulfilment of my role. It has also been very refreshing to see a Bishop involve himself to such an extent.
"I hope that Bishop Nicholas and Helen have a very happy and rewarding retirement and thank you so much from me!"
The Revd Richard Kirlew, Rural Officer/ Chaplain for Dorset
'Thank you for your encouragement on ecological matters'
Thank you for your oversight and ministry within the Salisbury Diocese and beyond over the last ten years. We are particularly grateful, here in Leigh, for your encouragement regarding the church's response to pressing ecological matters and the climate change crisis. As a retired priest holding your PTO, I know full well the new opportunities for ministry and reflection retirement can bring. I hope and pray that same kind of fulfilment will be yours as you explore what the Holy Spirit has in store for you. Every good wish to you and your family.
Anthony Durkin, Leigh

Thank you both for your fantastic ministry among us these last ten years. We've particularly enjoyed the way the Diocese is leading in ecological matters and this has been down to you and your inspiration and leadership. Thank you too for your messages of encouragement and hope which have been so helpful in these recent months. We remember with particular fondness the pilgrimage to the Holy Land which you led and also when you came to bless our new loo at All Saints, West Parley! We wish you a long and happy 'retirement'. With love,
Sheila and Graham Thomas, Ferndown
"An inspiring leader and a loving and compassionate shepherd"
"You are an amazing organisation. I am proud of the MU in this Diocese." Bishop Nicholas said these words during our Festival Service on 1 June 2019. His words still bring a lump to my throat.
Bishop Nicholas together with his wife, Helen, have been great supporters of the Mothers’ Union and all that it does. We have heard and been inspired by the sermons Bishop Nicholas has preached at our Festival Services.
We all have our own memories of Bishop Nicholas and Helen. Those involved in the Salisbury Law Court Café have seen the mountains of chocolate cakes which Helen has baked and provided to be sold. So many of us have enjoyed afternoon tea in the South Canonry Garden during the fundraising Fêtes for Sudan and South Sudan.

Throughout my time as your Diocesan President, Bishop Nicholas has supported, encouraged and guided me in my ministry. In him, we have an inspiring leader and a loving and compassionate shepherd.
On behalf of the members of the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Salisbury, thank you Bishop Nicholas for your guidance and support and may you both enjoy a long, joyful and peaceful retirement.
Rosie Stiven, Diocesan President, Mothers' Union
"I always felt supported and encouraged by you"
Photo by Ash Mills

The seven years I spent in the Diocese of Salisbury were the happiest of my ministry, and I always felt supported and encouraged by you in my role as Chaplain at Warminster School. You were always wonderful with our confirmation candidates, and your talk on developing ideas on marriage at our Theology Group was so positive and helpful to many people. I wish you every happiness in your retirement, and thank you for your wise and warm leadership of the Diocese.
David Prescott, Painswick, Gloucestershire

I know the clergy of the Diocese join me in wishing Bishop Nick and Helen every blessing in their retirement. He encouraged us to always find the good news whenever we met, and even in difficult times this reminds us that we are people of hope. Being a Bishop is not an easy job, and Bishop Nicholas brought great faithfulness, wisdom and integrity to the role. Knowing the burden of care on his shoulders, it was always lovely to see him sometimes be overcome with mirth - may there be much more laughter in the months and years to come.
The Revd Lydia Cook, Head of the House of Clergy, Diocesan Synod
'Thank you for your kindness and openness'
Photo by Lewis Pearson

Thank you for your Pastoral Ministry as Bishop among us. Your wisdom, inspiration, humour and pastoral sensitivity which we experienced to its fullness in the Holy Land will long remain with us. We wish you and Helen a well deserved time for refreshment by another sea in Brighton.
Canon Jenny and Geoff Taylor, Chalke Valley

Thank you for all your pastoral work and Christian faith leadership, your kindness and openness. I recall the time you came to visit the bell ringers at St Nicholas' Church to celebrate the hanging of our new set of bells, and the wonderful day had by all visiting the Tate Gallery for the William Blake exhibition of his art. Wishing you both a long, happy, healthy and peaceful future together.
Carolyn Angelucci, Okeford

I wanted to thank you so much for the welcome I had into Salisbury Diocese, first as an LLM and then as an ordinand and lastly as a curate. It was a privilege and a blessing to be ordained by you, and some of the things you have said will remain with me and shape my future ministry. Thank you. My prayers go with you for your retirement, although I'm sure God will continue to use you in his service.
Helen Williams, Wareham
"It has been a very rewarding time"
Photo courtesy Canford Magna

My recurring memory of Bishop Nick is of a chance meeting with him in the South Nave Aisle of the Cathedral a little before Christmas 2014. “Would you consider joining Finance Committee?” he asked. “It’d just be a few meetings a year.” I had a sense of being called - gathered, perhaps - on that day. It has been a privilege to work with you Bishop Nick, and I thank you personally, and on behalf of the Board of Finance for your selfless devotion to this Diocese over the last 10 years. You leave a Diocese blessed in so many ways - thanks be to God for that and for your ministry among us. I wish you and Helen a long, happy and blessed retirement.
Nigel Salisbury, Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Finance

Having been a member of Bishops Council for the last five years I have had the privilege to work closely with Bishop Nick. It has been a very rewarding time where I have learnt much and been able through his teaching and example to increase my faith, all done with much prayer, laughter and comradeship. Having worked with a selection of Bishops over many years 1969 to 2021 in Southwark and Salisbury all who were very worthy men, Bishop Nick is the fairest, kindest of men and a joy to be around and it will be a sad day in July when we say goodbye. May you and Helen enjoy your retirement and your grandchildren for many years to come.
Margaret Morrissey OBE
"On behalf of every child, we thank him for his wise support"
“We are thankful to God for the ministry of Bishop Nicholas and for the wonderful Shepherd he is amongst us. He is the President of the Diocesan Board of Education and on behalf of every child, we thank him for his wise support. The DBE and schools are praying for Bishop Nicholas and Helen as they step out on this next stage of their lives.”
Joy Tubbs, Diocesan Director of Education

Thank you very much for the love and care you have brought to the Diocese through your leadership, prayers and actions. From Helen's practical support of Erlestoke Prison to +Nicholas' national leadership as an Eco Bishop that challenges us all to care for God's Creation for the generations to come, your reach has been positive and inspiring. Thank you! We wish you a very happy retirement and send prayers and best wishes in this time of change. We hope you will "indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12
Nicola and Freddie Coupe, The Lavingtons, Cheverells and Easterton
"Thank you so much for your friendship"
Photo by Ash Mills

Thanksgivings and prayers for Bishop Nicholas Holtam a Vice President of Children’s Society and Bishop of Salisbury as he retires as Bishop and Vice President. Our thanks for his great support and work to make a difference for children and young people.
The Children's Society Church Team, via Twitter

Thank you so much for your unstinting support of the choir at St John's, Devizes over the years. The children of the choir in particular have always valued your championing of their choral awards, and this support has also been recognised by their parents, who see real achievements gained, both individually and collectively, as they progress through the choir. Our radio broadcast together in 2019 to mark the end of the Creationtide season will live long in the memory, and I remember at the planning stages how the BBC were adamant that the service would go out live and that it would be from a parish church in the Diocese, rather than the Cathedral! Thank you so much for your friendship and support.
Chris, Jennifer and Rosie Totney, Devizes
"You managed to connect with them in a way that they listened to and appreciated"
Thank-you for being so inspirational, forward thinking, caring and compassionate. Oliver was so proud to have you baptise and confirm him just a few weeks ago. The service and sermon were so very special, meaningful & relevant, and will be remembered & cherished by him and his fellow year 7 & 8 candidates. You will be sorely missed, but wishing you a restful, happy and peaceful retirement.
Nicola, Matt, William and Oliver Swinnerton, Palestine, Hampshire

I wanted to pass on my best wishes for your retirement. I hope you and Helen have many happy, fulfilling years to enjoy together after all your great service. I also wanted to share something with you that I doubt you know. You, and other clergy, confirmed my daughter (now 21) a few years ago, at Salisbury Cathedral, at sunrise on Easter Sunday morning. It was a wonderful occasion and one that we will all remember with great fondness. What you may not realise and be amused to know, is that you were 'a hit' with her and the other young people from our church, and have since then been affectionately known, and referred to, as 'Bish Nish!' I can assure you that this is used as a term of respect and endearment. It was lovely to hear them speak of your understanding of them as young people - they were at their least accepting of 'us oldies' at the time and still you managed to connect with them in a way that they listened to and appreciated. Thank you.
Paula Kent, Bere Regis
"Inspirational and compassionate leadership"
Photo courtesy St Johns Church Broadstone

So appreciated working with +Nick when I was Archdeacon of Wilts. What an example of holy and humble leadership! Thank you Nick and Helen. Enjoy retirement!
The Rt Revd Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton

We'll miss him as a kind and eager support of our twinning between our two dioceses. He has done a lot to reinforce our friendship.
Emmanuelle Stawski-Boudaliez, Évreux Link

Sending all good wishes for yours and Helen’s retirement together. With grateful thanks for your inspirational and compassionate leadership and for your support and prayers for us as a family over the years. We will miss you and we will think of you and pray for you both often.
Ron, Alice, Matilda and Daisy Martin, Sherborne
"Thank you for your care and leadership in the good times and the more difficult times"
Photo by Gerry Lynch

Thank you for your care and leadership in the good times and the more difficult times. Wishing you both every blessing for this next phase of your life together. With prayers and best wishes,
Richard Holness, Royal Wootton Bassett

Very best wishes to you and Helen for your retirement, and many thanks for your prayerful wisdom and welcome to others from ‘outside the box’! Remaining open-textured to the world and its people has been an inspirational hallmark of your ministry. Many thanks and every blessing to you both.
Sally Bedborough, Parkstone

Bishop Nick has been the kind of maverick we want in the Church of England. Forthright, clear, passionate and dedicated. We are so grateful for your leadership. May God bless you and Helen.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
"A good neighbour, committed advocate, and dear friend"
Photo by Ash Mills

My favourite memory of +Nicholas is of the annual Chorister Bishop service. Every year, on the Sunday nearest to St Nicholas’s day in Advent, Bishop Nicholas attends Evensong. As the Cathedral choir sings the Magnificat (“he hath put down the mighty from their seat”) he leaves his throne and removes his cope and mitre. A chorister, chosen by her or his peers, puts on a bishop’s robes, sits in the vacant throne, and preaches the evening’s sermon. Bishop Nicholas sits at the side – for a few moments he is another member of the congregation. It is an eloquent moment which speaks powerfully of the topsy-turvey Kingdom of God.

I know that Bishop Nicholas always found it profoundly moving, a lively reminder to him of the true nature of the office which he held among us. We are grateful to have had such a good neighbour, committed advocate, and dear friend. We assure Bishop Nicholas and Helen of our prayers and very best wishes.
The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury
"We wish you love and care"
Photo by Gerry Lynch

Through the mysterious process of discernment in Lambeth Palace, on to his Consecration in St Paul's Cathedral and then his joyful welcome in our Cathedral, it was always crystal clear to me that Nicholas was meant to be our Father-in-God. It was +Nicholas who inspired us to be known as 'the happy Diocese'. It was Helen who made South Canonry a home of welcome and hospitality for such a cloud of witnesses! Thank you, +Nicholas and Helen for the love and care you have given us. Now we wish you love and care as you create your new life - so very richly deserved.'
Robert Key, former MP for Salisbury and former Head of the House of Laity, Diocesan Synod

Thank you for your loving care and leadership of our Diocese, your visits to our churches, and your teaching at our Quiet Garden from Julian of Norwich: with all best wishes to you and Helen for a long and happy retirement.
Robert Floyd, Great Chalfield

Dear Nick and Helen, I hope your retirement brings you happiness and joy in the same way you inspired us during your time at St Martin in the Fields.
Very best wishes, Roddy and Fran, Beverley, East Yorkshire
"A hard act to follow"
Photo by Ash Mills

For the Church of England, this is an enduring model of how a Bishop should be - predominately pastoral, and spiritual - wisely and consistently leaving the admin to others. So many of us, in all the different parishes, have been visited, and felt reinvigorated through that great sense of shared ministries. Thank you, Bishop Nicholas and to your wife, for this decade of gifts.
Lavender Buckland, Iwerne Minster

Thank you for your excellent prayerful leadership. Enjoy your days of "no alarm clocks". Blessings to you and Helen!
Maureen Lyons, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

I for one will be very sorry to see Bishop Nicholas go... I think he'll be a hard act to follow, we've been really blessed by his ministry. Better start praying for his successor!
Robyn Golden-Hann, Salisbury
You can watch the Bishop's retirement interview here.

Watch the Bishop's farewell service here.
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