CLERGY, church leaders and communities from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire gathered on Trinity Sunday to mark the final service of the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft as Bishop of Oxford.
Held at Christ Church Cathedral, it was a chance to give thanks for Bishop Steven’s faithful ministry in the diocese over the past ten years, to offer prayers and good wishes to both him and his wife Ann, and to witness the laying down of the diocesan Pastoral Staff.
Bishop Steven thanked those present for their companionship, support and prayers over the past decade, remembering the many people who had shaped his ministry and the life of the diocese.
He then turned to the theme of ‘wrestling with God’, drawing on the story of Jacob and St Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
Sharing his children and grandchildren’s love of the TV show Gladiators – the ‘modern equivalent of wrestling’ – he brought along giant foam fingers for the delight of grandchildren and fellow bishops alike.
Bishop Gavin joked about the ‘new mitres’ he had expected them all to wear in his absence.
Encouraging the congregation to embrace the call of baptism to ‘fight valiantly’ for the gospel, Bishop Steven urged the Church to continue striving for a more Christ-like Church in a more just and peaceful world.
Tributes were offered by: Marjorie Glasgow BEM, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire; Imam Monawar Hussein MBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire; Professor Irene Tracey CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; and The Rt Revd Gavin Collins, Bishop of Dorchester
Imam Monowar said: “It has been both a privilege and a deep personal joy to work alongside Bishop Steven over the past decade.
“During that time, across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, we have witnessed the quiet but powerful deepening of relationships between our communities of faith and our wider civic life.
“We have gathered for peace vigils, bringing together people of all faiths and of none, united in compassion, hope, and a shared longing for peace.
“More than that, the group has helped reimagine interfaith engagement, drawing in not only faith leaders but also civic authorities, police leadership, representatives from both our universities, and Members of Parliament.
“You have called us not to remain strangers — across faiths, across institutions, across difference — but to come to the table, to trust, to listen, and to build peace. “You have lived those words in every quiet gesture, every patient conversation, and every act of leadership.”
Bishop Gavin added: “You have consistently reminded us of our calling, and challenged, inspired and equipped us to be a more Christ-like Church.
“And this is the standard that you have consistently, impressively and inspiringly modelled, lived-out and exemplified for us during these 10 years in post.”
Towards the end of the service Bishop Steven shared a blessing specially written by him for the occasion, and in an emotional conclusion to the service, he formally lay down the diocesan Pastoral Staff, handing it to the Dean of Christ Church with the words: “For you I have been your bishop. With you I am a Christian, a fellow sinner seeking the love and mercy of God. I thank God for the privilege of being bishop in this place and for our partnership in the Gospel.”
Following the surrendering of the staff, Bishop Steven removed his cope and mitre, revealing an L-plate on his back – a poignant throwback to his installation as Bishop of Oxford in 2016 when he also wore L-plates.
Bishop Steven explained: “We never lose the L-plates as Christians.
“They have become a symbol of all I have learned across the last decade in this immensely fulfilling role.”
The Bishop left the Cathedral to rapturous applause.
