Update from Bishop Martin

Friday, 10th September 2010

The Bishop of Whitby, Bishop Martin Warner, updates us on how he is after his heart attack:

"It’s good to be back in Yorkshire! I am recovering well and planning a steady return to work in October – carefully controlled by Anna Power, my temporary PA!

There are many things that I shall never forget from the experience of the past few weeks. Most of all, the knowledge of prayers and messages of support from people throughout the Diocese and the Cleveland Archdeaconry has been a source of huge encouragement. Thank you so much for all of that.

In Florence the skill of doctors and nurses at the Ospedale Nuovo San Giovanni di Dio was spectacular, as was the care of Fr Lawrence MacLean and the people of the English church of St Mark. But most of all I owe my life to a passer-by, Antonangelo Cortis, whose wife saw me collapse and who then administered CPR (resuscitated me) for 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived.

This is just one example of unostentatious, heroic generosity that shows the best of which we are capable, when so often it is the worst that gets reported. The conviction of this human capacity for goodness is what informs our view of the world as Christians. So it’s with renewed enthusiasm from recent personal experience that I look forward to continuing with all of you in our partnership in the gospel."

+Martin