The Bishop of Leicester has become new Bishop Protector of The Third Order of the Society of St Francis.
Franciscans from across the world met on Zoom on Monday 12 April to pray farewell to their previous Bishop Protector, the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell and handover to the new Bishop Protector, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, who was welcomed and prayed in for the Province of Europe.
Bishop Martyn who takes on the role alongside his existing work, said: “I’m very grateful to Archbishop Stephen and the Provincial Chapter for entrusting me with this role and I am very much looking forward to getting to know TSSF and acting as an advocate for the Order within the wider church.”
Canon Tim Higgins, Acting Minister Provincial Europe, said: “We are deeply grateful for the wisdom essential in this ministry of holding and protecting the call of this Franciscan Order.”
Introducing Bishop Martyn, Canon Tim Higgins, led the Zoom service. He recalled that it was exactly 800 years ago that Francis founded the two Franciscan Orders of Friars and Sisters. However, many other Christians, married and single, wished to join the Franciscan movement without living in separate communities, so Francis created the Third Order, which spread dramatically across Europe.
He set up the ministry of Bishop Protector when he realised that the radical call to live a gospel life would be met by resistance from Church and state of the day. There are now some 1,700 Tertiaries (Franciscans from the Thrid Order) in the Province of Europe, with four other Provinces worldwide.
Bishop Martyn said he came from a missionary background but had a particular interest in the new, emerging monastic movements, particularly our newly established Community of the Tree of Life in Leicester, which hosts young Christians adults from all denominations and from all over the world.
Serving the Franciscan Order, especially in these times, seemed right, even though he felt slightly overwhelmed by the task: “But unless you do, it usually means there is something wrong. I know I can only do this in the strength of God.”
Representatives from the four other Provinces were present online, including the Ministers Provincial of the Americas and Asia Pacific, and John Hebenton, Minister General. Most of the 41 Area Ministers of Europe were also present, with representatives of the First and Second Orders.
In his valedictory remarks, Archbishop Stephen said: “It has been a great joy to have been with you as Bishop Protector because St Francis of Assisi has always been an important person in my life.” He explained how it was through the ministry of a Franciscan friar, Bro Donald at a seaside Mission in Leigh-on-Sea, that he first knew he was called to be a priest. “I was caught in the snare of The Lord. The Society of St Francis has to take some responsibility for that.”
He admitted that he had not always had as much time as he would have liked to devote to the role but added: “It has been an honour and a joy to serve you. Our Church and our world needs your way of living.”