Catholic bishop leads retreat for ordinands

In a significant ecumenical gesture, a Catholic bishop has been asked to lead a retreat for 21 Anglican ordinands, including nine women, preparing for the diaconate. Brian Noble, 78, Bishop Emeritus of Shrewsbury, is due to attend all three days of the retreat this week at the Chester Anglican diocesan retreat centre, Foxhill, in Frodsham, Cheshire, and then preach at their ordination service at Chester Cathedral tomorrow (Sunday). The Revd Ray Samuels, director of ordinands for Chester Diocese, said it was the first time anyone from another denomination had led a retreat. Bishop Noble is a close friend of the Anglican Bishop of Chester, Peter Forster.

Mr Samuels said: “Bishop Noble will be doing the addresses before the retreat and leading non-eucharistic worship ... His involvement brings a wider perspective to ordained life.”

Bishop Noble  said: “I accepted the invitation as a gesture of ecumenical friendship ... It would be very sad if anyone was to read my acceptance as a statement about Anglican ordinance or the ­ordination of women.”