The Bishop of Croydon's Farewell Service

29 Jul 2002

[Sermon]

Bishop Wilfred Wood, KA will preach and preside at a Eucharist to mark the end of his long and distinguished career on Wednesday July 31. The service is to be held at Southwark Cathedral at 11am. He remains the Bishop of Croydon until 30 September but will finish full time work on the day of his farewell Eucharist.

Bishop Wilfred who has been Bishop of Croydon since 1985 was the first black bishop in the Church of England and has been a leading champion of minority ethnic groups in the Church and the wider community. The Eucharist on 31 July is the climax of a series of farewells for the well-known and much loved Bishop.

Guests at the Farewell include the High Commissioner of Barbados and the Deputy High Commissioner as well as many others who have been involved in his ministry.

A Brief Biography

The Rt Rev Dr Wilfred Wood KA, Bishop of Croydon

Born in Barbados 15 June 1936 1961 Ordained deacon, Barbados, under Letters Dimissary from the Bishop of London 1962 Ordained priest in St Paul's Cathedral, he served his title at St Stephen's, Shepherd's Bush, Diocese of London 1967 Bishop's Officer for Race Relations and Honorary Curate St Stephen's Shepherd's Bush, London 1974 Vicar of St Laurence, Catford (Southwark Diocese) 1977 Appointed Rural Dean of East Lewisham and Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral 1982 Archdeacon of Southwark 1985 Consecration as Bishop of Croydon 1986 Honorary Doctorate in Divinity, General Theological Seminary, New York 2000 Honorary Doctorate, Open University 2000 Knight of St Andrew (Order of Barbados)

Has served on: World Council of Churches Programme to Combat Racism (Moderator); Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure; Board of the Housing Corporation; member of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Commission on Urban Priority Areas. Board member and Vice Chairman of Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust; First Chairman of General Synod's Committee for Black Anglican Concerns.

Other roles 1981-1985 Justice of Peace Magistrate on the West London Bench 1972-1974 Chairman of the Institute of Race Relations (President since 1992) 1978 Chairman of the Martin Luther King Memorial Trust 1986 President, Royal Philanthropic / Rainer Society Founder-member of a number of housing associations, and President or Patron of more than 25 community and charitable organisations.

Publications 1966 Contribution to (among others) 'The Committed Church' edited by Bright and Clements (Darton, Longman and Todd) 1968 Vicious Circle with J Downing (SPCK) 1994 Keep the Faith Baby (BRF)

Married to Ina (also from Barbados). They have five children and three grandchildren.

Particular interests: racial justice, health, housing and criminal justice issues. Self-help initiatives in minority ethnic communities.

Ends.