The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, travelled through county and city on his first day as Bishop of Leicester Designate.
The Dean of Leicester, David Monteith, is delighted by the appointment. “Bishop Martyn’s experience of mission and ministry in rural and urban contexts makes him ideally placed to serve this diocese with wisdom, imagination and love. It will be a joy in 2016 to see him installed into his new cathedra in Leicester Cathedral.”
Jonathan Kerry is the Bishop’s Chief Executive and Diocesan Secretary. “We are delighted to welcome Bishop Martyn and look forward to his leadership of the diocese and the diocesan team.”
Bishop Martyn will spent his first day in the diocese visiting a variety of projects and places with which the church of England is involved.
Starting at Loughborough University, renowned for sport, where chaplains of many faiths work closely with staff and students, he met the Christian Union students, and local clergy the visited the gym to see the high level of training on offer. The England under 21 rugby team, and the university first 15 were delighted to see their visitor.
Bishop Martyn travelled to the parish church in Barrow on Soar where ‘Starting Rite’ is based. This is a programme for parents and babies under 12 months to learn about prayer and communication with their babies. Bubbles were blown by bishops, archdeacons, mums and babies alike.
Then on to Rothley C of E Primary School, which is one of the newest primary school buildings in the diocese. The school has a distinctly Christian ethos.
The Church of Christ the King, Beaumont Leys, holds many community meetings and activities, including a Foodbank supplied by FareShare Leicester. The bishop met volunteers and users, and elderly people from the locality.
At 4 pm Bishop Martyn met diocesan staff at St Martins House, and was interviewed live online by the Dean. All then attended evening prayer in the oldest church in the city, St Nicholas, with some of the Cathedral Choir adding music.
Many friends from around the diocese, from the city and from other faiths came to meet him in the evening and a happy time was had by all.
The Bishop will be installed in Spring 2016.
A gallery of pictures from the day can be seen on our facebook page