Bishop welcomed into our region… (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bishop welcomed into our region…

8:00am Saturday 7th August 2010 in

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Faith leaders in Bournemouth have extended a warm welcome to the new Bishop of Southampton, the Reverand Canon Jonathan Frost, and are optimistic that the young bishop (who is aged just 45 years old) will prove to be in touch with the youth and also understanding of the various faith groups here.

The bishop’s appointment was announced on Friday, July 30, and Jonathan made a tour of various projects in the diocese on the same day, including a visit to St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth.

Awaiting the arrival of the new bishop, St Peter’s vicar, Rev Canon Ian Terry, explained that he knew Jonathan while he was Rector of Bisley, Surrey, and that Jonathan was the Rector of Ash.

“He was a lovely, lovely man then and I am sure he still is,” Rev Terry said. “He is currently the University Chaplain in Surrey and so I am sure he will be in touch with younger generations. “Jonathan has his roots in parish life, but he is also used to the big occasions.”

Waiting alongside Rev Terry for the new bishop’s arrival was Rabbi Neil Amswych, from Bournemouth’s Reform Synagogue. Speaking to me with Rabbi Neil to his side, Jonathan said: “I am delighted to find a rabbi here to have tea with me on my first visit to St Peter’s.” Rev Frost, who has carried out significant work in the area of interfaith relations and served as the Bishop of Guildford’s advisor for interfaith relation, added: “I’m delighted to discover that interfaith work abounds in Bournemouth and I will look to support the building of bridges between the communities.

“There is so much we can learn from each other. “Our strength comes from our differences and good dialogue between faith groups is important.”

In response to an observation about his young age for the appointment of bishop, Jonathan responded: “I have lots to learn and plenty of people to share their wisdom with me!”

Michael French, Bournemouth’s nightclub chaplain, was hopeful that Jonathan might be supportive of the work with the younger generation. “I hope he will accept the different styles of Church within the diocese,” Michael told me. “The diocese has recently taken away the financial support for the nightclub work, so I am hoping that Jonathan might continue to support us where things have been tight recently. “It would be good to prioritise face to face contact with people.”

Jonathan grew up in Surrey and has served as a residentiary canon of Guildford Cathedral for the last eight years alongside his work as chaplain to Surrey University. He will move to the Diocese of Winchester with his wife Christine and their three teenage children.

Jonathan will be consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, on November 30 and formally commissioned into the Diocese of Winchester as Bishop of Southampton at the Evensong Service at Winchester Cathedral on December 4.