Bishop of Sheffield bows out after seven years

Reverend Dr Steven Croft, 58, held his last service yesterday morning at Sheffield Cathedral before he takes up his new role as the Bishop of Oxford.

His role has seen him come together with other faith leaders to show solidarity in the wake of terrorist attacks and offer support and guidance on the refugee crisis which grips Europe.

Bishop Steven also oversaw renovations of Sheffield Cathedral - the finish product was lauded by architects across the country.

“I’ve had seven wonderful years in Sheffield and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.

“There are so many highlights but one that sticks out was the Royal Maundy service where the Queen visited Sheffield. The city came to a standstill for the event and it was a wonderful sight.”

“The Diocese of Sheffield is looking forward to the future with a positive outlook of hope.

“I’ve worked alongside some fantastic people in the diocese and the city during my time here and I really thank God for that.”

On his new venture, Bishop Steven said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Oxford is a smaller city than Sheffield but the diocese is a lot bigger. I’ve got some more ground to cover and I can’t wait to get started.

“I’ll reflect very kindly on my time in Sheffield and South Yorkshire and I’ll carry those memories with me.”

The bishop has been a member of the House of Lords since 2013 and is no stranger to his new city having lived in Oxford for five years from 2004 to 2009.

In June, the Bishop’s Council approved the delegation by Bishop Steven of his functions as Bishop of the Diocese of Sheffield to Peter Burrows, the Bishop of Doncaster.

This means that until a successor is appointed, Bishop Peter will be carrying out most of the functions of the diocesan bishop.

Bishop Steven begins his new role in the September.