The Right Reverend Christine Hardman has bid farewell as Bishop of Newcastle at a Service of Thanksgiving at Newcastle Cathedral, during which she became the first faith leader to be presented with the Freedom of the City.
The service was attended by civic dignitaries as well as many who have met and worked with Bishop Christine in her six years leading Newcastle Diocese.
The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Habib Rahman, supported by Newcastle City Council leader, Cllr Nick Forbes, presented Bishop Christine with the Freedom of Newcastle.
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Speaking at the time of announcing her retirement, Bishop Christine, the 12th Bishop of Newcastle, said: “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.
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“Its people, history, and landscape have an enduring place in our hearts, and we will always treasure the years we have spent here.”
Bishop Christine became a Deaconess in 1984 and was ordained Deacon in 1987, serving in the Diocese of St Albans. From 1987 to 1996, she was a Tutor, and then Course Director for the St Alban’s and Oxford Ministry Course.
In 1996, she was appointed Vicar of Holy Trinity and Christ the King, Stevenage, also Rural Dean of Stevenage in 1999, and in 2001 served as Archdeacon of Lewisham and Greenwich in the Diocese of Southwark.
In 2012, she retired only to return to active full-time ministry when she was consecrated Bishop of Newcastle.
As Bishop of Newcastle, Christine has been a Member of the House of Bishops in the Church of England’s General Synod.
Her major area of work on General Synod was the legislation to allow women to be bishops. She has also been a Church Commissioner, Chair of the Archbishops’ Pastoral Advisory Group, sat in the House of Lords and was chair of the North of Tyne Combined Authority Inclusive Economy Board.
Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, the Right Reverend Mark Wroe will lead the Diocese of Newcastle as the process begins to appoint the next Bishop of Newcastle.
Bishop Mark 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.
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“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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