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March 2021 March 2021

before he owned a BISHOP OF SALISBURY TO RETIRE IN JULY
motorbike, which he
had for nineteen 2021
years, he had used a
tricycle for his rounds,
mending clocks from The Bishop of Salisbury, the
Swanage to Exeter. Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, will
H e h a d t w o retire on 3rd July 2021, a
greyhounds that month short of his 67
th
helped pull his birthday. He will have been
tricycle and trailer. Bishop of Salisbury for 10
years.
He was brother to
George Toms, uncle “Being the Bishop of
to Jack and Annie Salisbury has been a
Poore and great privilege and a joy”, the
uncle to George Bishop said. “In present
Poore, who many in the village will remember. Towards the end of his life he lived circumstances, the timing of
in Frome and is buried in the chapel of Puddletown Church. my retirement has not been
an easy decision but it feels
George Toms was born at Woodbury Hill, where his parents, Frank and Eliza, are
actually buried, in 1857, and in 1877 came to work for Mr. George Mitchell of right to me and to those I have consulted. The impact of the pandemic is going
Roger’s Hill Farm and to live in Little Thatch, to be felt for a long time. The Diocese is developing a Mission and Pastoral Plan
Briantspuddle. He only missed going to and we have an agreed financial framework with which to face the future with
Woodbury Fair twice in his whole life, in confidence. We continue to be about Renewing Hope as we Pray, Serve and
1915 (First World War) and again in 1936! Grow.
He was one of the original members of “In Bishops Karen and Andrew and the four archdeacons, the Diocese of Salisbury
Joseph Arche’s National Agricultural has excellent leadership. Our Diocesan Secretary, David Pain, is well established
Labourers Union, founded in 1872, the date and Joy Tubbs is an outstanding Director of Education. The Diocesan Board of
on his card being May 1872. He worked first Finance and the Diocesan Board of Education are people of faith, commitment,
for Mr. Mitchell and then for Sir Ernest skill and expertise. I am enormously grateful to them and to the Diocesan Synod.
Debenham, who had bought Roger’s Hill When the pandemic subsides, the scale of what faces us will benefit from a new
Farm just before the First World War, until his diocesan bishop with whom to make decisions about the future.
retirement at over 70. He had been
foreman of the road working team that “This is a testing time and the life of the Church has never been more important as
built the road from the crossroads to the a witness to Christian beliefs and values for the sake of God’s world. In many ways
school in 1921. He was a Trustee, Steward the Diocese of Salisbury is one of God’s small miracles. The energy, variety and
and member of the Weslyan Methodist resourcefulness of our churches, chaplaincies and schools are just three of the
Chapel in Briantspuddle since it’s opening, reasons why being the Bishop is a joy. I am full of admiration for our cathedral, for
his father Frank was Steward for the Poor. clergy colleagues and for the people of the Diocese who have been
He was remembered as squeaking his way extraordinarily resilient and creative in the adaptation of continued ministry and
round the chapel while taking the mission.
collection as he always wore his leather “It has been good to welcome the Channel Island Deaneries to the Diocese in a
leggings. Another memory of him is falling
asleep while Mr. Kellaway preached; Mr. new relationship for which the legalities have still to be finalised. I am sorry not to
Kellaway would wave his arms and bang

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