Shropshire’s newest bishop says England’s churches have an ‘urgent task of making new disciples’. The Revd Canon Mark Rylands, who was named today as the next Bishop of Shrewsbury, described churches ‘demonstrating the good news of Jesus Christ in their communities’ and ‘sharing the faith naturally’ as ‘the number one priority’ and ‘the most important thing we have to do’ and urged Christians to set about the task urgently.
He said: ‘One of the things which excites me most about moving to the Diocese of Lichfield is its emphasis and strategy on Growing the Kingdom and growing the church. This task isn’t restricted to the clergy – we need to continually encourage lay ministers, youth workers, church wardens and the whole people of God to set about this task.’
He added: ‘The role of a bishop seems to have got a bit more complicated with the extra red tape that has come in; but I hope to keep it simple and concentrate on the basics. It seems that where the parish clergy are having to become more episcopal now in overseeing more churches and helping people to discover their gifts, bishops need to become more apostolic, helping to share the faith, and make and grow new disciples. So I hope to be able to bring that to Shropshire, particularly with my passion for rural mission – seeing small churches grow and make a difference; and working together with our partners in other churches. We have so much where we can work together in mission.
‘We want to see God’s Kingdom reign here in north Shropshire and we want the churches to be a beacon of that Kingdom. We need to concentrate on making new disciples and growing mature disciples so we can become Christians who make a difference in our communities.’
Mark’s appointment has been welcomed by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill, who said: ‘Mark has many contacts with Shrewsbury and the region and has much rural experience as well as some urban and suburban. He has been vicar of a multi-parish benefice in south Cheshire, a team rector on the Somerset Levels and knows something of the pressures upon the farming community. He is chairman of the Rural Theology Executive committee and is well known for gaining the confidence of Christians of different traditions.
‘Since 2002 he has combined the posts of diocesan missioner, director of the Council for Mission and Unity and Canon Residentiary at Exeter Cathedral – not always posts that are easily held together. We are delighted that he and Amanda are called to be among us.’
The Archdeacon of Salop, the Ven John Hall, also welcomed the appointment, saying: ‘I am pleased to welcome Mark back to Shropshire. It’s good news that we have a new bishop who not only knows Shropshire – he was at Shrewsbury school – but also one who is steeped in rural ministry. He certainly will not have a problem in finding his way around.
‘He already knows many of the parishes and churches and some of the people of the area.
I am looking forward to working with him and I am sure the next couple of years are going to be an exciting time for the two of us, and the Shrewsbury Episcopal Area which also covers Telford and Wrekin.’
The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish, said Mark's ministry in Devon had been of ‘tremendous value’, and added: ‘He has a passion for mission and is immensely respected within the diocese and across other churches, possessing a genuine ability to reach out to people of all ages.
‘A man of vision, energy and determination, he has a great track record in getting on with delivering what is needed. As a bishop, I am convinced that he will be an excellent pastor of the clergy and a fine teacher of the faith. He also has a great sense of fun and will bring significant gifts to the Diocese of Lichfield.’
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, who was Mark’s vicar at St Nicholas’ Church in Durham while Mark was at university; and who then served as Principal of Trinity Theological College in Bristol where Mark trained for the Priesthood, said: ‘I am delighted to learn of the appointment of Mark Rylands as Bishop of Shrewsbury. He will bring to this post not only strong pastoral gifts, but attractive personal skills as a teacher and communicator of the Christian message.
‘His ministry is graced by his marriage to Mandy who will make her own distinctive contribution to Mark's work. This is an outstanding appointment and I am thrilled for them both and for the Diocese of Lichfield’.
Mark Rylands will be consecrated at Westminster Abbey 11.00am on Wednesday 28th October; and installed at Lichfield Cathedral at 3.00pm on Sunday 1st November. A service to welcome him to Shrewsbury will be held in Shrewsbury Abbey at on Monday 2nd November.