The below text was taken from Bishop Philip’s e-news. You can access it here .

“Congratulations to my predecessor, Bishop Crispian! Friday 11th July is his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Bishop Crispian comes originally from Bristol. His family is a distinguished one, his father, Chris, being a writer and an MP. His paternal grandfather was the Anglican Bishop of Taunton and his uncle Roger was the head of MI5 at the time of the Burgess and MacLean defections. He read modern history at Balliol College, Oxford and after studies at the Venerable English College in Rome, was ordained to the priesthood for the Clifton Diocese by Cardinal Hurd on 11th July 1965. Later in 1987, he was ordained auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham by Archbishop Couve de Murville and then appointed to our Diocese of Portsmouth in December 1988. He was installed on 27th January 1989 and served here for over twenty years until his retirement on 11th July 2012.

The role of the bishop is not an easy one, yet Bishop Crispian led our Diocese so worthily and well. I always think of the many things we can thank him for. Let’s keep him in our prayers on this wonderful anniversary, especially praying for his good health and cheer. He now lives in retirement in Somerset next door to his sister. Let’s say a prayer for her too. Many congratulations +C!”

[Image: CBCEW]