One of the North East’s most prominent religious leaders has announced she will retire at the end of November.
The Right Reverend Christine Hardman will leave her role as Bishop of Newcastle later this year after six years in the post.
Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Mark Wroe, will lead the Diocese of Newcastle through the process of appointing Bishop Christine’s successor.
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Bishop Christine said: “I am reaching my 70th birthday at the end of August and my time as Bishop of Newcastle is drawing to a close. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted my resignation, and with the Archbishop of York’s permission I will be stepping down as Bishop of Newcastle on 30th November, 2021.
“I am profoundly grateful for the six years I have served this Diocese, the depth of welcome and relationships in this region has been inspirational and encouraging.
“We have all been called to minister together, lay and ordained, at a time of extraordinary challenge, and I am very proud of the way in which our clergy and laity have responded to this. I give thanks for all of you. It has been a privilege to be your Bishop.
“My husband Roger and I have been incredibly blessed by the generosity and support that has been shown to both of us in our time in Newcastle Diocese.
“Its people, history, and landscape have an enduring place in our hearts, and we will always treasure the years we have spent here.”
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Bishop Christine became a Deaconess in 1984 and was ordained Deacon in 1987, serving in the Diocese of St Albans. Between 1987 and 1996 she was a tutor and then course director for the St Alban’s and Oxford Ministry course, before being appointed Vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ the King in Stevenage.
In 1999 she became Rural Dean of Stevenage in 1999 before serving as Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich in the Diocese of Southwark from 2001.
She retired in 2012 but returned to active full-time ministry when she was consecrated as Bishop of Newcastle in 2015.
As Bishop of Newcastle, Christine has been a member of the House of Bishops in the Church of England’s General Synod, where her major area of work was the legislation to allow women to be bishops.
She is also a Church Commissioner, Chair of the Archbishops’ Pastoral Advisory Group, sits in the House of Lords and chair of the North of Tyne Combined Authority Inclusive Economy Board.
Bishop Christine’s colleagues in the church have paid tribute to her dedicated service.
Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Mark Wroe said: ” Bishop Christine has been a profound voice of hope and faith for the Church and the North East, locally and nationally, as a passionate advocate of our region.
“It’s been a privilege to serve in the team she has developed, in the midst of so many changes and challenges, to help us be a growing church bringing hope for our Diocese.
“We have appreciated her compassionate, straight-talking, faith-filled and collaborative leadership which never shies away from the issues at hand.
“Although we will miss Bishop Christine deeply in the diocese, we will be bolstered by the hope and faith in Jesus Christ which she constantly holds before us. Our prayers and love will go with her and Roger.”
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York said: “Christine Hardman has been an outstanding Bishop of Newcastle, bringing hope and purpose to the parishes and communities she serves and becoming a trusted and respected voice for the Christian faith in the North East, but also in our national life through her work and witness in the House of Lords.
“As she approaches retirement I wish her and Roger every blessing. We thank God for her tenacious faithfulness.”
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