Hundreds of people are set to attend a special Farewell Service for the Bishop of Carlisle this weekend.

In March, the Rt Rev James Newcome announced that he would retire from his role at the end of August after 21 years’ ministry in Cumbria.

Marking more than two decades of his leadership in the Diocese of Carlisle, the Farewell evensong will take place at Carlisle Cathedral on Sunday 16 July from 3pm.

Bishop James said: “The Cathedral has always held a very special place in my heart and so I am delighted that a Farewell Service for myself and my wife Alison is to be held there.

“It will be such a joy for us both to meet and worship with so many friends who have supported us throughout our years in Cumbria and to give thanks to God for such a wonderful experience ministering in this beautiful county.”

Bishop James and Alison first came to the county in 2002, following his appointment as the Suffragan Bishop of Penrith. Seven years later he was appointed the Diocesan bishop, leading work with other denominations to create England’s first ecumenical county in 2011. He provided pastoral support for communities affected by devastating floods in 2005, 2009 and 2015, the west Cumbrian shootings and most recently the Covid pandemic.

Bishop James has also held a number of national roles for the Church. For 10 years he has been the Church of England’s ‘lead bishop’ on health and social care in the House of Lords and in 2014 he was appointed Clerk of the Closet to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a role which has seen him head up the Ecclesiastical Household.

Meanwhile, this week Bishop James also attended his final General Synod – the Church of England’s national assembly – at which a tribute was paid to him by the Archbishop of York.

Against a slide show of various photographs of Bishop James, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell told members: “When he was considering ordained ministry as a pathway for his life, a referee wrote this about him ‘James is not ambitious for worldly advancement and is free from self-importance… he is well-balanced… he is seriously committed to God, other people and his vocation’.

“Those words are just as apt today, for James is quite simply a loving, godly, self-effacing, and gospel focused Christian gentleman.”

The archbishop highlighted Bishop James’ focus on health-related issues in his national role and touched on his recent visit with him to the Appleby Horse Fair.

He added: “Everywhere you go in Cumbria, people know James. He of course would claim otherwise. However, I have it on good authority, that on one occasion he was walking with a friend down a country lane in a beautiful and remote part of the Lake District and explaining to his friend that despite being in the public eye he was rarely recognised, at which point a man rode by on a horse, doffed his hat and, and said ‘Good morning, Bishop’.”

The Farewell Service is a ticketed event and will also be livestreamed on both the Diocese of Carlisle and Carlisle Cathedral Facebook pages.

A film of thanks and well wishes for Bishop James and Alison recorded by people across the county has also been uploaded to the Diocese of Carlisle’s YouTube channel.

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For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.