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A new residence is to be sought for the Bishop of Worcester. The decision by the Church Commissioners has been announced following an in depth investigation into the suitability of Hartlebury Castle as a see house for the Bishop.
Hartlebury Castle is situated 12 miles north of Worcester and is inaccessible by public transport. Its future has been debated since the 1860s and it was divided into three areas in the 1960s: the North Wing, leased to the County Museum; the State Rooms, leased to the Hartlebury Castle State Rooms Trust; and the Bishop’s House, providing office and living accommodation in one-third of the building.
The Board of Governors of the Church Commissioners have approved the search for a replacement to begin before a new use for the castle is found. Given the time needed to find suitable alternative accommodation and the cost of a move, it will be the current Bishop’s successor that will move into a new residence.
Despite his appreciation of the place he’s called home for 6 years, Bishop Peter welcomes the decision.
"I have always known that the policy decision had been taken to house the bishop somewhere other than Hartlebury, and over the years we have lived here I have come more and more to believe that decision is right. Living here is a privilege that we enjoy, but it is right that the Commissioners have decided to begin the search for a new house now. I shall be glad, when the time comes for us to leave some years hence, to know that my successor will have a more appropriate living and working environment."
The Diocesan Secretary, Mr Robert Higham said:
“The Bishop’s Council were aware that the Church Commissioners were considering this line of action and sees this as a positive step forward in resolving the issue of suitable accommodation for the Bishop. We are pleased that a definite decision has been made.”
Notes to the editor:
The full statement from the Church Commissioners reads
The Board of Governors of the Church Commissioners has confirmed its 1996 decision that Hartlebury Castle is unsuitable as a see house for the Bishop of Worcester and approved the search for a replacement to begin before a new use for the castle is found.
Hartlebury Castle is situated 12 miles north of Worcester, inaccessible to public transport. Its future has been debated since the 1860s and it was divided into three areas in the 1960s: the North Wing, leased to the County Museum; the State Rooms, leased to the Hartlebury Castle State Rooms Trust; and the Bishop’s House, providing office and living accommodation in one-third of the building.
In September 1996, before the appointment of the present Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby, the Diocese and the Church Commissioners agreed that the accommodation within the Castle for the Bishop and his office should continue while the future use of Hartlebury Castle was resolved. The Board of Governors has now agreed that a new see house can be sought before the future of the Castle is resolved.
In the past there have been discussions about the use of the Bishop’s House with the National Trust, English Heritage and the County Council.
Whilst the present Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby, and Mrs Selby have always expressed their willingness to move from Hartlebury, the time needed to find suitable alternative accommodation and the cost of a move before he retires (within the next six years) mean that his successor will be the bishop to move into a new residence.
The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.
© Copyright The Diocese of Worcester
