We are pleased to announce that the Rt Revd John Stroyan, Bishop of Warwick, has been appointed as our new President.
Bishop John succeeds the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark, who came to the end of his term of office at the end of 2016.
Bishop John, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Coventry, is an experienced retreat leader and has a keen interest in the Eastern Spiritual Tradition.
Bishop John comments: “I am honoured to join the charity’s leadership team at a time when its message for the Church could not be more vital. Committing to a pattern of silent prayer helps us to abide in Christ more deeply and bear clearer witness to his love. I very much look forward to supporting the charity and through it, our valuable network of retreat houses which quietly serve as spiritual engine rooms for the Church of England.”
The Revd Barry Preece, Chair of the APR, said: “The trustees are so pleased that Bishop John has agreed to take on this important role in helping us communicate the power of retreats within the Church and beyond. His background and skills in spirituality and healing ministries will be of great use as the charity seeks to identify ways of supporting activity at every level of the Church encouraging exploration of contemplative prayer and retreat.”
Bishop John is UK President of the Community of the Cross of Nails, a member of the International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue and Co-Chair of the Reuilly Contact Group. He has been deeply enriched by the Christian East through his various involvements with Eastern monasticism and through Orthodox mystical theology. He has recently written a forward to ‘Prayer and the Priest: Christian Meditation and Priestly Life’.
The President of the APR attends trustees’ meetings when possible, and works closely with the Chair on discerning the strategic direction of the charity. An important aspect of the role is to hold the work of the charity and its members in regular prayer and to lead Eucharistic services at APR events at least annually.