'I'm looking forward to getting to know the heartbeat of the community': New Bishop of Worcester excited about new churches and communities in preparation for role
The new Bishop of Worcester has said he is excited to get started with meeting the different people across the diocese and inviting them to build communities of hope.
Rt. Rev. Hugh Nelson had been taking in a tour of the diocese, which includes Dudley and Sandwell, after being officially announced as the 114th Bishop of Worcester on Tuesday, July 29.
The Bishop had started his day at Worcester Cathedral and paid a visit to St Thomas' Church in Stourbridge to meet with clergy from around the diocese, including the Bishop of Dudley and the interim Bishop of Worcester Rt. Rev. Martin Gorick.
The Bishop, who succeeds Rt. Rev John Inge following his retirement in October last year, is currently the Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro, a position he has held since 2020, serving as the Acting Bishop of Truro from Sept 2023 until May this year.
He is also Bishop to the Armed Forces, providing spiritual and pastoral leadership to Anglican Chaplains serving in the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, a role which he will continue to hold as Bishop of Worcester.
While he will not officially start in the role until January, Bishop Nelson said he was keen to meet with people from the community and get to know more about his new patch.
He said: "Today has been fantastic as I've met some brilliant people and seen some honestly amazing things going on among community groups and churches serving their communities.
"I've learned quite a lot about the area by talking to people, but it's different once you're in the place and so while I've got lots of information about the place, I haven't really got to know it from the inside.
"That's why I'm looking forward to arriving here in the new year and getting to know what's at the heartbeat of the communities."
The Bishop also spoke warmly about his predecessor Dr. John Inge, saying that he knew how much the people loved him and how he hoped to follow in his footsteps.
He said: "I know that people loved him and that he loved people and I know that people would always say that John loved God and people.
"I hope that I can follow in those kind of footsteps, loving god and loving people and encouraging others to do the same as he did.
"The Diocese of Worcester has got some really good plans and they know what they're doing, so I'm not here to say I've got new plans, I'm here to help them to make those plans come to life and to support everything."
The Bishop said he was excited about coming to the region once he had finished his role in Cornwall and spoke about what people could expect from him as a man of the cloth and as Hugh.
He said: "I would describe myself as a man who loves his family, loves God and love the church and I've belonged to communities of different kinds, inside and outside of the church.
"I love being with people and I love communities that serve their neighbours and do things practically that make life better for people.
"I also love a bit of cricket, so being based across the road from New Road is not a bad thing."
Bishop Nelson's arrival in the region was welcomed by his long-term friend Bishop Gorick, who said that he looked forward to working with him and spoke about the sort of Bishop he felt he would be.
He said: "My predecessor John Inge was here for 17 years and was around the same age of 53 that Hugh is when he arrived, so Hugh is filling big shoes, but Hugh is a strong person as well as a gentle person, so I think he'll do it well.
"He'll very much work within wanting to listen and learn and discovering how he can make a difference and while that will take time, the national values of the Church of England and the mission statement are to be a Jesus Christ-centred church which is simpler, humbler and bolder.
"When you meet Hugh, I think you will meet a Christian who resonates those values and has a life centre on Jesus Christ, so I'm delighted that he's coming to be Bishop of Worcester."
The vicar of St Thomas' Church, Rev. Andrew Sillis, said he hoped that the new Bishop would bring energy and excitement to the role.
He said: "There's a huge investment coming from the national church to Dudley and Redditch, as well as more to follow from Worcestershire, and I know he's excited by this already from what he's been saying.
"I know that John Inge was a bundle of fun and laugh-a-minute, as well as super serious and super enthusiastic, so I hope the new Bishop will bring energy and excitement to the role.
"The Diocese is more than 1,000 years old and he's only the 114th Bishop that we've had, so it's not an everyday occurrence that we get a new Bishop, but the job is one of longevity and I don't think he will short of things to do."
