THE Bishop of Worcester since 2008, Dr John Inge, has announced that he’ll retire in October. He turns 70 next 12 months.
He said on Friday: “Being Bishop of Worcester has been an infinite privilege. By the time I leave, I shall have been here nearly 17 years, the longest I even have lived anywhere in my life. I even have lived through the most effective of times and the worst of times in my personal life during those years, and am more grateful than I can say for all of the love and support I even have received.”
Dr Inge was married to Dr Denise Longenecker Inge before her death from cancer in 2014 (News, 25 April 2014; Obituary, 2 May 2014). They had two children. He remarried in January 2018 to H-J Colston (News, 19 January 2018). Ms Colston has two children from a former marriage.
Dr Inge continued: “I’m not anxious to retire — I’m deeply attached to Worcestershire and Dudley, and love being Bishop here! However, I shall be 70 in February and feel, under God, that now could be the suitable time to depart.”
A farewell service is to be held in Worcester Cathedral on Sunday 29 September.
Dr Inge was originally a chemistry teacher before training for ordination on the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He was ordained priest in 1985. He was an assistant chaplain at Lancing College until 1986, after which a chaplain of Harrow School, where he continued to show.
In 1990, he was appointed Vicar of St Luke’s, Wallsend, where he stayed for six years before becoming a residentiary canon of Ely Cathedral, with responsibility for education and mission, after which Vice-Dean. He was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon, in Ely diocese, in 2003, where he served until his translation to Worcester in 2007 (News, 12 July 2007). He was installed the next March.
Dr Inge has been the Lord High Almoner of England since 2013, and was a part of the Royal Procession on the Coronation. He accompanies the monarch throughout the Maundy service. He has spoken on a big selection of issues within the House of Lords, most recently urging the Government restore the international aid budget (News, 20 March). He can be vice-president of the National Churches Trust.
In 2023, he wrote an open letter to his diocese, setting out why he supports a change of policy on same-sex marriage within the Church of England (News, 13 January 2023). “I desire to live my life under the scriptures, and consider that it is feasible to accomplish that whilst holding to the understanding to which I even have come about same-sex relationships.”
Dr Inge will retire officially on 9 October. During the emptiness, the Bishop of Dudley, Dr Martin Gorick, will turn out to be acting diocesan bishop.
