The Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, retired on Sunday, 29 September, during a farewell service at Reading Minster. In a poignant moment, she approached the altar alone and laid down her crozier, mitre and cope before kneeling and praying.
Hundreds gathered to wish Bishop Olivia well and celebrate her five years as bishop and further 22 years of ordained service in our diocese. They were joined by many civic dignitaries including the High Sheriff of Reading Alexander Barfield, the Mayor of Reading Cllr Glenn Dennis and the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Andrew Try.
During the service, Bishop Olivia paid tribute to the area staff who had supported her, the ‘remarkable and committed’ clergy and lay leaders she served alongside and spoke of being astonished and humbled by the volunteers whose work she had witnessed.
She added: “In a few minutes I will lay down the pastoral staff of the Bishop of Reading. It is a weighty thing, designed and made by Victorian craftsmen for the first Bishop of Reading in 1890 with the general assumption that bishops come with large biceps. The ministry I have held has felt weighty at times, there have been difficult conversations, finely balanced decisions, situations without any clear answers. There has been a constant need for vigilance, and constant prayer for wisdom. But there hasn’t been a day which I have not felt the joy of it, the privilege of being trusted with it, and the curiosity of wondering what God will do next.
“If I have a parting message it is perhaps a plea, that we the flawed, sometimes irritable, sometimes argumentative always deeply loved body of Christ continue to share bread and to make the road by travelling together with Jesus.”
There were readings from two teenagers who had joined Bishop Olivia on a retreat to Taizé in France as well as farewell wishes from Andrew Try and John Sykes, Chairman of the House of Laity, Oxford Diocesan Synod. Musical accompaniment was provided by Reading Gospel Choir, the Choir of St Paul’s Wokingham and the Choir of Reading Minster. During the service Bishop Olivia was also presented with the gift of a rose, named Gabriel – fitting for St Michael and All Angels Day.
The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Steven Croft, described Bishop Olivia’s courage she had displayed in her ministry. He said: “Your courage in accepting that call, and in the way you have exercised your ministry, in your advocacy for the environment, in your as it seemed fearless challenges to many different people, always delivered with love and kindness, in the way you have stepped into your civic role so courageously in the work you have done in the national church, and in so many other ways.
“Each of us by the grace of God brings many gifts to the life of God’s church but we will remember you, I will remember you, especially for the courage you have brought to this ministry and I speak, I think, on behalf of everyone gathered here when I say we will miss you deeply.”
Since her consecration in 2019, Bishop Olivia has been a champion for young people in particular the impact of knife crime, as well as leading the diocese’s response to the climate crisis. In this role she attended the COP26 conference in Glasgow and worked closely with other faith leaders on environmental leadership. She has also led an annual pilgrimage to Taizé in France with groups of young adults.
Along with two other bishops, she also led the national Church of England’s work on the environment. She is a member of General Synod, having been elected as a suffragan bishop to the House of Bishops.
Bishop Olivia’s lifelong interest in international development and passion for social justice also inspired her work at the diocese. She chairs the diocesan Partnership in World Mission Council overseeing the relationships with our three link dioceses, Kimberley and Kuruman, Nandyal and Växjö. She has also led the work on Flourishing in Ministry, a set of resources and a leadership approach that supports clergy to develop a healthy rhythm of prayer, work and rest.
Ordained in 1997, Olivia has since served in the Diocese of Oxford, in Garsington, Princes Risborough, and Burnham before becoming a Parish Development Advisor, and then the Archdeacon of Berkshire in 2013. Olivia was announced as Bishop of Reading in July 2019 and welcomed in a special service at Reading Minster later that year.
Bishop Olivia began her career in teaching and international development in Africa, including seven years working for Oxfam. She is also trained as an Ignatian spiritual director and leads retreats and quiet days. Bishop Olivia is married to Keith, and the couple have three grown-up children.
Watch Bishop Olivia’s service online or leave her a message of thanks. A gallery of photographs from the service can be seen on our Facebook page.
The next Bishop of Reading will be announced towards the end of the year.
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Notes to Editor
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