NOT even finding out he had a heart condition could stop the Bishop of Oxford enjoying events to honour his retirement.

The Rt Rev John Pritchard revealed that he recently had a stent fitted, after discovering he had a blocked artery when he felt pains while training for a 10-day pilgrimage through his Diocese.

Some 2,200 people joined Bishop John at the weekend as he took a break from the 104-mile trek.

The Grand Day Out in Oxford featured picnics and talks – including an appeareance by Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry.

Our top stories

Speaking at Saturday’s event, the Bishop said: “I’m really just pleased I’m fit enough to do this walk.”

The Grand Day Out was held to mark his retirement after seven years in the role.

Bishop John said: “It’s been a fascinating, intriguing, challenging, fulfilling, fun-filled, hard working seven years.

“I have met some wonderful people. I have been living in a place full of interesting characters with wonderful life stories and great ability.

“And in the middle of that, I have tried to make the Christian faith relevant, accessible and attractive.

“I hope the Diocese has become more united and more cared for and with a greater sense of purpose and I think we have probably achieved some of that.”

Crowds descended on Christ Church Meadow for activities, a picnic, open air worship and a host of speakers Ms Berry.

The Great British Bake-Off star was also interviewed earlier in the day by Bishop John in front of an audience at St Aldate’s Church, in Pembroke Street.

Bishop John said: “It was a huge pleasure to spend an hour in conversation with Mary Berry. She is just as wonderful in person as she appears on TV.

“All our speakers gave a fascinating insight into their remarkable lives and their faith stories were inspirational.”

The Grand Day Out was one of three events planned to mark the Bishop’s official retirement on Friday, October 31.

It invited Christian followers from the 815 churches under its reins to join celebrations, as folk taking part in the Thames Pilgrimage arrived in the city.

Bishop John has been leading pilgrims through the Diocese during the 10-day trek. Between 20 and 30 people each day have been taking part in the walk, with a core group of eight walking the whole route..

With his successor yet to be announced, Bishop John said there were challenges that lay ahead.

He said: “We are actually a very divided city. We have great privilege and wealth and also great disadvantage and relative poverty. I think there is a job to be done there.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Great British Bake Off star Mary Berry with the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard

Pilgrims left Radcot on Thursday before pausing to join others at the Grand Day Out on Saturday.

They resumed their route yesterday and will finish in Runnymede on September 28. The final farewell event will include a special service at Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral, in St Aldate’s, on October 30 at 6pm.

Reflecting upon the past seven years, Bishop John said the three events marking his retirement were the highlight of his time.

He said he has been enjoying participating in the pilgrimage and walking through the areas of the Diocese where he has served.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.