Letter from The Bishop of Norwich – The Rt. Revd. Graham Usher

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

I am delighted to let you know that 10 Downing Street has announced that His Majesty The King
has approved the nomination of The Venerable Ian Bishop, currently Archdeacon of Macclesfield in the Diocese of Chester, to be the next Bishop of Thetford.
Archdeacon Ian has a pastor’s heart and an evangelist’s passion which I am sure will contribute
greatly to our life together under God in the diocese. He recognises the importance and
challenge to reach children and young people with the Gospel of Christ, and in recent years has
prioritised encouraging mission in communities where poverty is a lived experience.
Having trained for ordination at Oak Hill, he later served as vicar of Tasburgh, Tharston,
Saxlingham Nethergate, Shotesham, Newton Flotman and Swainsthorpe in this diocese and was
chair of the Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. He will have particular oversight for safeguarding,
education and ministry, acting as Sponsoring Bishop for ordinands.
Today Archdeacon Ian will tour the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, including visiting Tasburgh Henry
Preston Church of England VC Primary School where he was previously chair of governors from
1995 to 2000, Great Yarmouth Minster, the Pathways Café, Oulton Broad Marina and Cloverfield
Church after school club.
Archdeacon Ian will be present at Evening Prayer at 1630 at St Cuthbert’s Church in Thetford
and all are most welcome to attend.
Archdeacon Ian will be ordained as a bishop in Westminster Abbey on the Feast Day of St
Michael and All Angels 29th September 2023. There will be a service of welcome for him and his
wife, Sue, in Norwich Cathedral on Saturday 30th September at 1730 to which all are warmly
invited.
For further details please see the news article and a short video where Archdeacon Ian
introduces himself: www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news