The Bishop of Grimsby, The Rt Revd Dr David Court, Announces Retirement

Retirement announcement

After more than thirty years of ordained ministry, and the past eleven years as the Bishop of Grimsby, the Rt Revd Dr David Court has announced that he will retire at the end of July 2025.

Some words from Bishop David

Bishop David said:

“I am hugely grateful for the privilege of serving and being part of the Church here in Greater Lincolnshire.

“Although there have been surprises and unexpected challenges along the way, I want to say thank you for the support and trust I have experienced from so many during that time; and for the commitment of so many people across the diocese to see Jesus made known in the different communities they seek to serve.

“Although there have been surprises and unexpected challenges along the way, I want to say thank you for the support and trust I have experienced from so many during that time…”

“I believe the work we entered into together through Time To Change Together, over the past five years, leaves a firm foundation for the Church here in Greater Lincolnshire to build on, in all the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“With Bishop Stephen’s support and approval, I hope to continue to play my part in that work.

“Ann and I will be staying locally, continuing to live in Grimsby, the town we have come to see as home; and I am looking forward to doing what I can to continue to support the work of the local church, particularly in North East Lincolnshire, but in a different role, and hopefully at a slightly slower pace!”

A pivotal figure

Bishop David has been a pivotal figure in the Diocese of Lincoln since his consecration in July 2014. As the Bishop of Grimsby, and later as Acting Bishop of Lincoln, he has shared in the strategic leadership of mission and ministry in Greater Lincolnshire and provided particular pastoral care across the northern half of our Diocese.

In our work towards the growth and flourishing of the local church, Bishop David led our bid to the national Strategic Development Fund (SDF), and through the Resourcing the Urban Church project, has been instrumental in revitalising churches in Lincoln, Grimsby, Grantham and Spalding.

He has overseen the work of our Transformation Fund, supporting local churches and communities through grants which have made a real difference in lives and futures.

Bishop David has long been an advocate of the place of children and young people in the life of the Church. As Chair of the St Lawrence Academy Trust, he has contributed to the education and development of young people in our schools and churches.

Recognising our calling to care for God’s creation, Bishop David has chaired the Lincoln Diocesan Environmental Implementation Panel (LDEIP), and together with colleagues has rooted climate change awareness and environmental sustainability in the context of our wider mission and ministry.

This important work recently culminated in a milestone Bronze Eco Award for the Diocese.

Tributes to Bishop David’s Ministry

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, has been leading tributes to Bishop David’s ministry. He said:

“I am enormously grateful to Bishop David for his welcome and support of me, first as interim, then as Diocesan Bishop.

“The splendid thing about Bishop David and his ministry is that his qualities as a leader are shot through with real humility and loyalty. When he took on the role of Acting Bishop in 2019, he displayed exemplary leadership in this Diocese during a very challenging period.

“Time To Change Together would not have happened without Bishop David’s wise and persistent leadership, and we owe him a lasting debt of gratitude as we move into the next phase.

“I have learned a lot from Bishop David spiritually as he, Bishop Nicholas and I have shared the Scriptures together, and I know that people across the Diocese are grateful for his preaching and teaching.

“I am really pleased that Bishop David and Ann will be staying as part of our family in the Diocese of Lincoln. After his much-deserved rest, I will be commissioning Bishop David as an Assistant Bishop, and I am thankful to God that we will continue to enjoy this example of loving discipleship and apostolic ministry.”

The Bishop of Grantham, the Rt Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, said:

“Bishop David has been a great colleague. I have deeply valued his personal kindness, his energy, his organisation, his compassion, his prayerfulness and his reflective, open approach to life and ministry.

“We were both ordained in 1991. We both served in parishes for over twenty years before moving to Lincoln as suffragan bishops, where Bishop David started a year before me.

“For both of us, the heartbeat of the church is to be found in its local congregations, chaplaincies, work-place ministries, schools and community projects. It seems to me that this is the context in which Bishop David is happiest and most fulfilled.

“He has served the people of Greater Lincolnshire selflessly as Bishop of Grimsby, and also as Acting Bishop of Lincoln, leading us through Covid and the first phase of Time To Change Together, and shouldering a huge organisational and responsibility burden in doing so.

“I have learnt a vast amount about evangelical and charismatic Anglican spirituality and history from him, and I am delighted that he and Ann are retiring locally so that we might continue to meet, learn and pray together. 

“Above all, David loves the Lord – and this love shines out in all he is and all he does.”

Canon Professor Muriel Robinson, Chair of the Lincoln Diocesan Trust and Board of Finance, said:

“I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with Bishop David in many ways over his time in the Diocese and have learned a great deal from him.

“He has brought good humour and common sense alongside real wisdom, and there has been a depth of understanding from his own parish ministry which has been reflected in our wider Diocesan practices.

“He has made a huge contribution to our future as he has guided us through so many projects, not least our shared journey in the Diocese – Time To Change Together.

“I will not be the only person who will miss him greatly, but I respect his decision that now is the right time to move on to a new phase of life.

“I wish him and Ann a long, happy and healthy retirement. I am sure it will be a busy one!”

Thanksgiving and farewell

Bishop David will formally retire on Thursday 31 July 2025. A special service of thanksgiving and farewell will take place at Lincoln Cathedral on Sunday 29 June at 3.45pm to express our deep gratitude for Bishop David’s years of service and ministry to God’s people in Greater Lincolnshire.

Prayers

In the coming months, we invite you to pray for:

• Bishop David, his wife Ann and their family
• Bishops Stephen and Nicholas as they prepare for this time of change
• The process of seeking to appoint the next Bishop of Grimsby
• Our whole diocesan family and our common life in Christ

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