The Right Reverend Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of Shrewsbury has welcomed the consecration of the new Bishop of Qu’Appelle, Canada - the Right Reverend Gregory Kerr-Wilson.

|TOP|The dioceses of Lichfield and Qu’Appelle have a partnership covenant with each other. The Bishop of Shrewsbury recently returned from Qu’Appelle having participated in the consecration of the new Bishop.

Upon his return Bishop Alan Smith said "I was delighted to represent the Diocese of Lichfield at the Consecration of Bishop Gregory in St. Paul's Cathedral, Regina.

"Gregory was formerly Dean of Edmonton Cathedral and brings wide parochial experience as well as a particular interest in liturgy to the post. We look forward to working with him and our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle over the coming years."

The Diocese of Lichfield was represented not only by the Bishop Alan Smith but also by Paul and Beryl Graetz from the parish of Tittensor near Stone.

They said: “We were welcomed by our friends in Qu'Appelle as lay representatives of Lichfield Diocese and felt extremely honoured to be asked to take an active part in the consecration service as Communion Assistants.”

|AD|They continued: “This highlighted to us the commitment between Qu'Appelle and Lichfield in the same way as our presence showed our commitment to them. As Bishop Alan and the Rev Dr Michael Sheard emphasised the clergy relationships between the two Dioceses so, we would like to think, did our presence for the Lay relationships.

"We were so warmly welcomed both personally and officially that it reinforced our feelings that the Covenant was important to both dioceses.”

Qu’Appelle was first visited by Paul and Beryl Graetz in 2000 when they formed part of a Mission team from the Diocese of Lichfield.

They said of their visit: “We made many good friends and have since returned as private visitors in 2002 and 2005. We were also part of the organising team for their return visit to Lichfield in 2001.
As their mission commenced within a couple of days of September 11th we were impressed by their courage and faith in continuing with the trip.

"Friends from Qu'Appelle have already visited us and others are doing so in the near future. We feel that meeting other Anglicans who visit Lichfield Diocese and our visiting other Companion Dioceses are so important in strengthening the worldwide Anglican Communion."

They added that: “It has changed our Christian lives and we would encourage anyone who may have the opportunity either to host overseas visitors or to travel to one of our Companion Dioceses to do so if it is at all possible.”

The Diocese of Lichfield is linked not only to that of Qu’Appelle but also to those of Kuching, Sabah and West Malaysia (Malaysia), Matlosane (South Africa) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg (Germany).