Bishop of Durham Dr Tom Wright to retire

Apr 28 2010 The Journal

THE Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, has announced his retirement. Dr Wright, who was ordained in the post in 2003, yesterday described the move as “the hardest decision of his life”.

During his seven-year career in the North East, Morpeth-born the Rt Rev Wright has courted controversy with his outspoken views on issues such as human embryo research, the Iraq war, gay marriage and best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.

He is leaving his position, one of the most important in the Church of England, to return to the academic world as Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.

“This has been the hardest decision of my life,” said the 61-year-old.

“It has been an indescribable privilege to be Bishop of the ancient Diocese of Durham, to take part in the work of God’s kingdom here in the North East, and to represent the region and its churches.

“I have loved the people, the place, the heritage and the work.

“But my continuing vocation to be a writer, teacher and broadcaster, for the benefit (I hope) of the wider world and church, has been increasingly difficult to combine with the complex demands and duties of a diocesan bishop.

“I am very sad about this, but the choice has become increasingly clear.”

The Rt Rev Wright, a life-long Newcastle United fan, was brought up in Morpeth before moving on to Sedbergh School in Cumbria and then Oxford University.