The Bishop of Bristol has announced she is to retire later this year after seven years in the position. The Rt Rev Vivienne Faull was Bristol’s first-ever woman bishop but turns 70 this year so must retire, according to the rules of the Church of England.
Bishop Viv has been granted special permission by the Archbishop of York to stay on in the role after her birthday in May, so she can ordain new deacons and priests over the summer, and she will retire on September 1.
The Bishop of Bristol is the leader of the Church of England in the Diocese of Bristol, which covers a large area around Bristol and over into north Wiltshire and Swindon. Bishop Viv was the 56th Bishop of Bristol, and the first woman, when she was enthroned at Bristol Cathedral back in October 2018.
“After 42 years in full-time ministry as deaconess, deacon, priest and bishop, the time has come for a rest,” she said. “I have revelled in each of the places and communities to which God has called me and have been enriched by them all.
“My seven years in Bristol, where my mother — a great campaigner for the ordination of women — was born, baptised and confirmed, has been a beautiful coda, and I will leave this generous, creative, brave and open diocese with deep gratitude for all that, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have learnt and transformed together. May Christ bless and keep us now and in our pilgrimages ahead,” she added.
Bishop Viv has had an eventful seven years in charge of the Church of England in Bristol, overseeing the church’s response to the Covid pandemic, the death of Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of King Charles, riots and protests in Bristol and more recently at the end of last year, the sudden resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the church’s handling of child sex abuse scandals.
She has been a member of the House of Lords since 2021, and has been one of the lead bishops in the country for church and cathedral buildings. As one of the 26 ‘Lords Spiritual’, she took her place in parliament – Britain is one of only two countries in the world with religious leaders automatically in positions of power in parliament, the other is Iran.
In March 2021, she was one of the signatories to a letter from city leaders backing the police organised by the Mayor’s Office following the first riot against the Police and Crime Bill, but later, in July, leaders at Bristol Cathedral eventually condemned police for the violent way officers broke up of a peaceful protest on College Green – which is owned by the Diocese of Bristol – three days after the first riot, saying protesters were traumatised and beaten by police.
There will be a special service held at Bristol Cathedral to say farewell to Bishop Viv at 3pm on Saturday, August 30. The announcement now starts the process of identifying the next Bishop of Bristol, with church leaders in the city consulting with parishes and groups from across the diocese.