Top cleric to go over voice fears

The Bishop of Stafford is to retire from church duties next year. The Right Reverend Gordon Mursell will step down in May 2010 when he will be 61 years old.

The outspoken Bishop, who recently made headlines after attacking the "little England mentality" of some and the decline of family life in Britain, is leaving his job because of concerns over his voice.

In the past eight years the bishop has had three separate operations on his vocal cords but has now been told the cumulative wear has left a permanent vulnerability which means he must reduce the use of his voice.

In a letter to worshippers the bishop said he was retiring "with great sadness" but joked "it is the consequence of talking too much".

He added: "I made an excellent recovery from the last operation, in October last year. But it appears that the cumulative "wear" on my voice has left a permanent weakness in the area round the vocal cords.

"It is clear that the long-term consequence has to be a really significant reduction in voice use and in this post, that is almost impossible to achieve without failing to do what is asked of me.

"So I am clear that it is the right decision to step down, even though it will be desperately sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful people."

The bishop said he was now looking forward to spending more time with his wife Anne, who works part time as a consultant psychiatrist in Dumfries. The couple plan to move to Kirkcudbright, in south-west Scotland, where they already have a house.

He added: "It will be a real wrench to say goodbye. All this, however, is still some time off, and there is plenty to do in the meantime."

The Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, who now has to begin the search for a successor to serve as Bishop of Stafford, said: "We are enormously saddened that he has to take early retirement. He has encouraged and inspired us all with his unique teaching gifts and has become a much appreciated pastor of his area."