ALMA
link

News

Logo

Bishop Michael Colclough retires from ALMA

[October 2013]

Bp Michael Colclough
Bishop Michael Colclough
(Picture courtesy St Paul’s Cathedral)

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, has announced that Bishop Michael Colclough will be stepping down from the position of Chair of ALMA. Bishop Michael has been Chair since 2000.

The change was announced in a letter sent to those involved in ALMA.

The ALMA Strategy Group will be hosting an ALMA event to mark Bishop Michael’s retirement in due course.

Bishop Richard writes:

To the representatives and friends of ALMA in London, Angola and Mozambique.

Dear Friends

I am sure that by now news has filtered through to many of you that Bishop Michael Colclough has retired as Canon Pastor at the Cathedral and is also stepping back from the helm of ALMA.

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Michael who has been tireless in promoting ALMA and keeping it firmly on the agenda through these past thirteen years. He took over as Chair in 2000 when Bishop Graham Dow, the first Chair, left Willesden to become Bishop of Carlisle.

Since then he has overseen a period of exciting growth and development in ALMA while also exercising a demanding ministry as Bishop of Kensington and Canon Pastor at St Paul’s Cathedral. Michael I know would be the first to acknowledge that he could not have achieved so much without such an enthusiastic team of supporters and helpers both here in London and in Angola and Mozambique.

ALMA has grown hugely and has now become a well rooted part of London Diocesan life with link parishes or schools in every Episcopal area.

As I look back on these years I can reflect on Bishop Michael's tireless zeal for the partnership as I think of just a few highlights:

2002 he visited both dioceses in Mozambique;

2003 he chaired the first Diocesan Lent Appeal Give Hope raising £123,000 to start HIV work in Angola and Mozambique;

2003 he attended the consecration of Bishop André and Bishop Mark in South Africa;

2005 he lobbied Parliament for Trade Justice and met several London MPs;

2006 he visited Angola again;

2008 he planned the 10th Anniversary River of Life Service with three partner Bishops en route to the Lambeth Conference

2008 he suggested that the five yearly Lent Appeals of London Challenge 2012 be dedicated to ALMA;

2010 he arranged ALMA exhibitions in St Paul’s Cathedral and St Botolph without Bishopsgate as part of the City of London Festival.

I know Bishop Michael and Cynthia will be hugely missed by all the ALMA Community and especially by the ALMA Strategy Group who will be hosting an ALMA event to mark Bishop Michael’s retirement in due course.

As we continue to pray that the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will be proclaimed in Angola, London and Mozambique with greater urgency and success, so we pray for God’s faithful servants Michael and Cynthia, that the best may be yet to come.

With thanks for our partnership in the Gospel

The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres KCVO DD FSA