A Month of Faith, Connection, and Community: Bishop Graham’s January Journey

In the crisp dawn of a new year, Bishop Graham experienced the rare privilege of spending the first Sunday at Sandringham with King Charles and Queen Camilla. There, amid the historic walls of St Mary Magdalene Church, he delivered a morning sermon to the royal congregation. This meaningful beginning set the tone for a month where bridges would be built between faith communities, royal duties, and local parish work. January concluded with another royal engagement at Windsor Castle, where the Bishop joined Their Majesties for the premiere of “Finding Harmony – A King’s Vision,” a film exploring the monarch’s deep-rooted belief in humanity’s responsibility to work harmoniously with the natural world. These bookend experiences with royalty framed a month filled with grassroots ministry and community connection throughout his diocese.

Between these royal appointments, Bishop Graham immersed himself in the life of his diocese, performing the essential spiritual work that forms the backbone of his ministry. He confirmed four teenagers in Denton, witnessing their public declaration of faith as they responded to what he beautifully described as “Jesus’ invitation to ‘come and see.'” In Diss, he presided over the licensing ceremony for Reverend Elizabeth Burren as the new rector, alongside her husband Reverend Peter Burren as permanent deacon, blessing their new ministry with the hope they would be “rooted and grounded in love.” Perhaps most poignantly, Bishop Graham led worship for the congregation of St John the Baptist in Harleston, whose church building had been badly damaged by fire in October. The service, temporarily relocated to the Roman Catholic chapel of St Thomas More, became a powerful demonstration of ecumenical solidarity as he publicly thanked the Catholic congregation for opening their doors to their Church of England neighbors.

January proved to be a month where ecumenical friendship flourished beyond individual parishes. Bishop Graham hosted fellow church leaders from Norfolk and Waveney Churches Together on an educational tour of Parliament, offering them a glimpse into the intersection of faith and governance. During this enlightening visit, the church leaders met with local MPs, toured the Commons and Lords, observed Question Time in the House of Lords, and engaged in thoughtful discussions about the role of the Lords Spiritual in British political life. This experience highlighted the bishop’s commitment to helping faith leaders understand the mechanisms through which their voices can influence public policy and national discourse, reinforcing the idea that faith communities have important contributions to make to civic life.

The bishop’s own parliamentary responsibilities as a member of the House of Lords saw him leading prayers and speaking passionately on issues close to his heart. He delivered a compelling address on the vital role faith groups play in achieving Net Zero carbon emissions, emphasizing the moral and spiritual dimensions of environmental stewardship. In another significant parliamentary debate, Bishop Graham spoke about the troubling legacy of mining pollution in former colonies, highlighting how the Church of England Pension Board is working at the forefront of efforts to address the devastating human and environmental costs of abandoned mines and mining waste. These interventions demonstrated his commitment to applying faith principles to pressing contemporary challenges, showing how religious institutions can be positive agents for social and environmental justice.

Late January found Bishop Graham on a pastoral visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank alongside the bishops of Chelmsford and Gloucester. This journey of solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land resulted in an unexpected gift – a lemon picked by a Palestinian priest intended for King Charles. In a remarkable conjunction of his international and royal duties, Bishop Graham was able to personally deliver this humble yet symbolically rich gift to the King during the Windsor Castle premiere of “Finding Harmony.” The film explores King Charles’s lifelong interest in nature, environmentalism, religion, art, and design – themes that resonate deeply with the bishop’s own commitments to creation care and spiritual harmony with the natural world.

As January drew to a close, the contrasts of the season were reflected in the bishop’s own garden, where delicate snowdrops pushed through the winter snow – a reminder of resilience and the promise of renewal. Even as he fulfilled his diverse responsibilities spanning parish ministry, national governance, international solidarity, and royal service, Bishop Graham looked ahead to the coming seasons, announcing spring and summer open afternoons at the bishop’s garden to support local charities. This simple act encapsulated his ministry: rooted in community, connected to the rhythms of creation, and always seeking to nurture hope and practical support for those in need. Through the coldest month of the year, Bishop Graham’s warm presence illuminated the many ways faith communities can work together to create harmony in a complex world, mirroring the vision his King had shared through film and his own example of servant leadership.