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Meet the new Bishop of Selby: Flora Winfield

Get to know the new Bishop of Selby

The Revd Canon Dr Flora Winfield will be consecrated as the Bishop of Selby on 10th October.

1. If you could invite one person from the Bible or Christian history to dinner, who would it be?

I would have loved to meet Elizabeth Ferard. In 1862 she was the first woman consecrated as a Deaconess in the Church of England. She was inspired by visiting deaconess communities in Germany and wrote a wonderfully vivid diary about her travels to meet them and find out about their ministry. When she returned to England, Elizabeth inspired other women in her turn, and they joined her in founding a deaconess community in the Church of England. From this small beginning, women went on to ministry as deaconesses in parishes, schools and hospitals, following Christ in working with those most in need, and today we continue to enter into her goodly heritage.

2. Who has been influential to you in your faith journey?

My mother, whose own journey of faith in really difficult circumstances, and untiring encouragement showed me the grace of faithful persistence and delight in every day experiences as gifts from God.

3. What are you most looking forward to in your new role?

To getting to know the people and places across the diocese, and to learning and understanding together how we are called to Live Christ’s Story.

4. We know you enjoy gardening, music, hospitality and Roman archaeology – where do you find God in any or all of these?

I especially enjoy the music of JS Bach, which continues to surprise and delight at every listening and, especially in his extraordinary settings of scripture, to draw me towards Christ.

5. What brings you joy?

My garden brings me such joy, in every season of the year there is something lovely and always purposeful work to do. Just now the apples are coming in abundance and the birds have begun their autumn songs, which is a delightful accompaniment to working in the garden. 

6. What is your favourite liturgical season?

Every year I really look forward to Advent, with the hastening sense of expectation in the readings, liturgy and music each day.

7. How do you pray?

I find the structure of the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer provide the framework for prayer each day, with psalms and readings for each season which draw you into our living tradition of faith. And of course, Christians all over the global church say the Office faithfully in every circumstance every day, so you are always praying the Office in their company.

8. How do you rest?

I find listening to and playing music very restorative. 

9. Which saint’s life inspires you?

St Benedict’s wise teaching on life in community has always been important to me.

10. What lesson have you learned by listening?

That the volume of your listening must always be at least twice that of the volume of your speaking.

11. What’s the most urgent or important message you bring to the communities and people of the Diocese of York?

The truth that I have received: that God calls us all, prodigals and latecomers, to the table of his generosity, to receive his forgiveness, to know his welcome and to receive his grace for service.