Bishop Steven Benford has concluded his seven years’ service as Bishop of Dunedin with a farewell Eucharist at St Paul’s Cathedral, where he preached and presided in his Cathedral for the final time as Bishop. The 240 people who made it to St Paul's on Sunday joined many more who have gathered at local farewells for Bishop Steven around the diocese in recent weeks. 

Bishop Steven looked back on his ministry with Anglican communities and organisations across Otago and Southland and gave thanks for all the ministry and mission he had seen, and for all that he had received. 

“I feel as though I have been formed and changed by my time in Dunedin far more than I could have hoped to form and change others.” He remarked in his homily.

Bishop Steven went on to give thanks for the beauty of the diocese he had served in as its shepherd, for the beauty of its people most of all, but also its landscapes and buildings. 

But it was the personal experiences of meeting with and pastoring people that had stood out for him.

“I have most enjoyed accompanying others on different stages of their walk with God – baptism, confirmation, ordination, being with them through final illness and funeral, giving and receiving encouragement, fellowship and friendship, seeing others and myself grow as a result of encounters with Jesus Christ.” 

Bishop Steven’s parting hopes for the diocese (which he admits he will miss a great deal) are very straightforward.

“My hopes are that the Diocese continues to bear witness to Jesus Christ – in love – not only through words, but through service.” 

Alongside Bishop Steven at his farewell were Bishop of Auckland Ross Bay, Bishop of Wellington Justin Duckworth, former Bishop of Dunedin Kelvin Wright, Catholic Bishop of Dunedin Michael Dooley, (who like Bishop Steven was ordained bishop in 2017) and Archbishop Philip Richardson.

Archbishop Philip recounted how he had met with Bishop Steve and Lorraine in the UK before they came to Aotearoa and had already seen then that Steven was a person of real character.

“I want to thank you Steven for all your faithful work in the diocese, and in the House of Bishops. In many ways I think you have been the best of us, precisely because you would never think of yourself as the best.”

Bishop Steven Benford and his wife Lorraine will now move to England, where Bishop Steven is considering a role of parish priest and Assistant Bishop in a Church of England diocese.

Bishop of Auckland Ross Bay has been appointed Episcopal Commissary for the Diocese of Dunedin and will work with Vicar General, Archdeacon Jan Clark and diocesan leaders to guide the Diocese up to the election and appointment of its next bishop.