27th April 2018

Retired Anglican Bishop of Lancaster gives 'top tips' to his successor, Rev Dr Jill Duff

The retired Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev Geoff Pearson, met his successor, Rev Dr Jill Duff, this week to pass on some of his wisdom after 11 years in the role.

Geoff retired last summer while Jill was announced as his successor in March of this year.

They met in Hope Street, Liverpool and Jill tweeted a picture of the pair together, adding to her tweet that she was getting some ‘top tips’ as she prepared for her new role!

Bolton-born Rev Dr Jill Duff was, most recently, the founding Director of the St Mellitus College, North West, which is the first full-time ordination course in the North West for over 40 years, offering context-based ordination training and theology courses.

Bishop-designate Jill said: “I really appreciated Geoff being able to meet with me and to have the opportunity to hear some insights from the third longest-serving Bishop of Lancaster.

“We know each other well as Bishop Geoff was chair of St Mellitus NW Board and a great encourager of the partnership between St Mellitus College and the NW bishops. I asked him what he was praying for and he replied, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘revival of the church!

“He gave me a booklet he’d written back in 2005 called ‘Towards the Conversion of England’ (reflecting on William Temple’s 1945 report) – a topic close to my heart too. His top tip was this: “Stay poor in spirit and trust in His immeasurable riches.”

Jill said: “I have now left my role as Director of St Mellitus NW, so I can have more space in the next months to pray, write, relax and begin preparations for starting as Bishop of Lancaster following my consecration at York Minster in June and my installation service in the Diocese at Blackburn Cathedral in July.”

“I move into this new season with a surprising sense of joy – the fruit of so many people’s prayers. I am also looking forward to joining colleagues for some key meetings – including the forthcoming Bishop’s Leadership Team residential at Whalley Abbey in early May.”

• The York Minster service will be on June 29, followed by the installation service at Blackburn Cathedral on July 3. More details for both of these events will be circulated in the near future.
• You can still watch Bishop-designate Jill’s recent message of greeting to the Diocese on our Diocesan YouTube channel.